Imagery In A Lesson Before Dying

Told through the eyes of Grant Wiggins, an educated elementary school teacher who formerly taught Jefferson, we can see his tainted views on his community. "Everything you sent me to school for, you're stripping me of it [...]. The humiliation I had to go through, going into that man's kitchen. The hours I had to wait while they ate and drank and socialized before they would even see me. Now going up to that jail.

This exchange was the one that showed that Grant finally got through to Jefferson. Time after time Grant brought food to Jefferson, and sat and waited for him to say something. When it was time for Grant to go, he asked Jefferson everytime if there was something he wanted to tell his nannan, a last attempt at trying to get Jefferson to say something. This time, at the end of their sessions together, Jefferson finally spoke and showed that Grant’s time with him wasn’t wasted. This time, Grant brought Jefferson pecans and peanuts that the children from the school brought him with the intention of giving them to Jefferson.

Grant’s success in making Jefferson feel like a man came from making him believe that he was part of the community. After the trial in which Jefferson was convicted as a criminal, Jefferson lost perception

A Lesson before Dying In the novel A Lesson before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines, the author conveys multiple emotions that are presented throughout the book over a period of time. Gaines goes into several details that almost makes the reader believe they are a part of the book themselves. A twisted plot is presented towards the middle of the book, which leaves Jefferson’s future in the hands of others. Ernest J. Gaines was born January 15, 1933, on River Lake Plantation in Oscar, a small town in Pointe Coupee Parish, near New Roads, Louisiana.

Change; it’s inevitable. It’s happening all around us at all times of the day. In the novel A Lesson Before Dying, change is a significant part to the storyline. Grant Wiggins (a school teacher from Louisiana) wants nothing more than for things to change. He wants to run away from his job, his hometown.

Grant gains a sense of love and respect for Jefferson and once he lets himself show his emotions, he notices, “I was crying” (256). Grant progresses a long way throughout his time with Jefferson. When he is first asked to teach Jefferson to be a man Grant is defiant and believes that it does not matter how he thinks of himself because he is already a dead man. After he starts to make a connection with Jefferson, he cares for the man and even though he is cold to others on the day of Jefferson’s execution, he is in mourning for him. Grant’s mindset is changed through his transformation of Jefferson before his sentenced death because of their growing care and respect for each

Grant has a change of heart and is less angry and more calm and patient with Jefferson, he visits and talks with Jefferson and we start to see the change between the two, ‘“Jefferson, do you know what ‘moral’ means?’ I asked him. He looked at me, knowing that I knew what he was thinking about. ‘Obligation?’ I said.

When Jefferson was at trial his lawyers' defense was that Jefferson was a mindless hog with no capability of even thinking of committing a crime of that nature. Jefferson took those words to heart and when he was first sentenced and put in jail Jefferson was intent on making the people who visited feel bad for him, he wanted them to feel guilty. He would lash out and say cruel things or he would be passive and act like he doesn't care, making it difficult for Grant to achieve his goal of helping Jefferson. As time went on and the reality of Jefferson's situation set in, Grant had the opportunity to understand Jefferson more and eventually help him out of the mindset his situation put him in. When Jefferson is writing in his journal to Grant he says, “when they brot me in the room an i seen nannan at the table i seen how ole she look an how tied she look an i tol i love her an i tol her

The cases of Pervis Payne, Walter McMillian, and Jefferson from the novel ‘A Lesson Before Dying" are prime examples of the corrupt justice that is so deeply rooted in the judicial system. All three of these men were held in unfair court trials in which all odds were stacked against them. Each of these cases has its own unique story, but ultimately, they all expose the unjust violations of human and civil rights in court systems. Pervis Payne was a Tennessee man who, on June 27, 1987, on a Saturday, was unfairly accused of the attempted rape of his girlfriend’s neighbor, Charisse Christopher, and the murder of Charisse and her two-year-old daughter, Lacie Jo. Due to the fact that there was no clear motive or reason for Payne to commit such

Grant realized the potential in Jefferson and himself. This discovery of being able to transform the people around him and himself drove him to become more engaged and empathetic in helping Jefferson. Afterward, when Grant visits Jefferson after giving him the radio, he tries to talk to him. He asks Jefferson if he would meet with Miss Emma and Reverend Ambrose, and Jefferson agrees. However, when the conversation comes to a stop, Grant finally says,

Grant’s girlfriend, Vivian, provides the support he needs to keep him from eluding his problems. Women in this novel play an influential part as a bridge to success in men’s lives, as Tante Lou and Vivian secure Grant 's role in the community, and as Miss Emma encourages Jefferson to die as a man. Even as Jefferson doubts the existing love for him, Miss Emma remains an influence in making him a man by going to many extents. From start to finish, she had always been the strong will who wanted the wellbeing of her godson. Knowing that the fate of her son was execution, she refused to let him die as a hog.

Grant feels he can share his feelings with them because he feels Truong 2 comfortable around Vivian and Jefferson, and know they will not judge him. Vivian and Jefferson’s ears for understanding and helping for Grant, allows helps him to grow while he aids others in the process. As his interactions with Vivian and Jefferson grow, he learns to care about the other characters and not just himself. In addition, Grant’s perspective and motivation changes when he visits Jefferson. His Grant’s visits to Jefferson makes him feel that he has something to prove to the white people in the jail, by being able to change Jefferson and “make him a man” before he dies.

This is shown throughout the novel by showing that in the beginning of the novel, Grant wants nothing to do with Jefferson and his situation. As the book continues, he realizes that Jefferson is a human too and that he needs to realize how good he has it compared to some people. In the beginning of A Lesson Before Dying, Grant Wiggins struggles with accepting his responsibilities. This is shown in multiple examples. The two examples used in this paper were when Grant avoids all of his responsibilities and does not want anything to do with Jefferson.

One lesson that Jefferson learns from Grant is that he has the potential to make a difference to the whole town. Grant teaches Jefferson how he has as much potential as anyone else. By believing in Jefferson and giving him resources, Grant helps teach Jefferson this lesson. Jefferson changes throughout his time in prison to become more aware of his worth. One way Grant helps Jefferson realize this is by organizing his students and other people from his quarter to come and visit Jefferson, this makes Jefferson realize how he matters to his community.

In Ernest Gaines’ novel, A Lesson Before Dying, the author uses a third person point of view to assess the issue of racial injustice in the South during the 1940’s. Grant understands that justice is evaluated unfairly and knows that it does not favor the poor and uneducated black man. Due to Grant’s ability to be able to understand others, he successfully learns how to bring justice, while assisting Jefferson. This presents the audience the significance of the novel as a whole, embracing responsibility and facing injustice. Grant feels as if he shouldn’t feel obligated or pressured to help bring justice to Jefferson.