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A Lesson Can Be Learned Before

 

            
             Imagine being locked all alone in the back of a jailhouse for something that you did not do and knowing the exact day and way you were doing to die. Well, that was how it was for Jefferson, a 21-year-old black man, or in the judge's case a "hog," who was innocent just in the wrong place at the wrong time. "A Lesson before Dying" by Ernest J. Gaines, is about the ways in which people insist on declaring the value of their lives during a time and place in which their lives count for nothing. The novel is also about the ways in which the imprisoned may find freedom even in the moment of their death.
             "I was not there, yet I was there." (Gaines 3) Grant says this in the beginning of the story reflecting back on Jefferson's trial. This quote characterizes Grant as a type of person who accepts his role in the society, in which he lives and feels a responsibility towards those around him. Although he was not present at the trial, it has become personal to him and the remorse he feels for the situation could be none the more real if he had been there. (www.accessus.net) Grant Wiggins, is a teacher at an elementary school. Grant is a very bitter man for being so young; maybe it is because he has known nothing but segregation and racism his whole life, growing up there in Bayonne, Louisiana. Over the course of the novel, he learns to accept responsibility for his own life, for his relations with other people, and for the condition of Southern society. .
             Jefferson is another one of the main characters; Jefferson is a black man who is sensitive and somewhat stupid. Accused of the storeowners" murder Jefferson faces the death penalty; he becomes very depressed waiting on death row. Jefferson feels worthless in a white dominated world he lives in. but all of this changed when Grant befriends him and helps him out before he dies.
             Jefferson is convicted of murder. The attorney defending Jefferson asked the jury to spare his life, because he was a "hog," not a man and there was no point in killing a hog that didn't know the consequences of his actions.


Essays Related to A Lesson Can Be Learned Before

1. A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

In A Lesson before Dying the author uses conflict to show that a man who is mostly by himself in a difficult situation is stronger alone then accompanied. ... In a Lesson before Dying, Gaines also uses characterization to show that a man is strong when he is alone. In the novel, many people think Grant is delusional for thinking he can turn Jefferson into a man, especially Reverend Ambrose. ... You learned your reading, writing, and 'arithmetic, but you don't know nothing. ... In a Lesson before Dying , Grant decides to do something very genuine for someone, and not everybody agree...

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2. Lessons Learned in To Kill a Mockingbird

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4. Bravery in A Lesson Before Dying

A Lesson before Dying is one of the most popular novels released by Ernest J. ... Bravery is the most important lesson before dying. ... In A Lesson before Dying, Tante Lou demonstrates the most important lesson; bravery, through a couple of different ways. ... Jefferson learned how to defend his rights and stand up against the people who treat him unequally. ... The most important lesson before dying is bravery....

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I thought that the book A Lesson Before Dying was all right overall. ... Those two books were ten times better than A Lesson Before Dying so I can say that I was probably expecting too much. A Lesson Before Dying has a superb depiction of the theme "you can't judge a book by its cover". ... There were also some parts of A Lesson Before Dying that I did not like. ... Overall I thought A Lesson Before Dying was an all right book. ...

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6. Lessons

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7. A Lesson Before Dying

In the novel A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines, a young black male named Jefferson is on death row for a crime, which he did not commit. ... Another place where it is illustrated that Jefferson might actually be understanding why he must die with dignity is when Grant says, " I want you to show them the difference between what they think you are and what you can be. ... You can prove them wrong" (191). ... Grant says that if he can march to the electric chair full of pride and dignity that he will rebel against the community of white oppressors. ... Also, he lets Grant know that he has...

  • Word Count: 512
  • Approx Pages: 2
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8. a lesson before dying

"A Lesson Before Dying" by Ernest J. ... As Wiggins visited Jefferson and paid attention to his time of distress, they both had changing attitude toward what was happen and both learned an valuable lesson from each other. ... He said, " Do you know what his nannan wants me to do before they kill him?"... "(225) realizing that Jefferson taught him that no matter what little thing you can do to help someone out, you are influencing someone's life for the better. ... He had learned that he is a man and not a "hog". ...

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Through each of these experiences, Jean Louise, or Scout, learned another lesson. ... Due to the Tom Robinson trial, Scout learned lessons that she would remember all her life. ... She learned this lesson throughout the novel, and shows her maturity many times. ... "You can pet him Mr. ... She also learned a lesson about people in general. ...

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