A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

In the beginning of the novel A Lesson Before Dying Jefferson’s lawyer in an attempt to defend him calls him a pig. He indicates that Jefferson has no ability to think so he could not have done things with thought. He Is trying to help but had deprived Jefferson of his own self-worth as a man. The idea of what makes a man is central to the idea of the story. As Grant helps to teach and educate Jefferson he helps to establish a bond with the man. As Jefferson has the chance to talk with Grant and learn he becomes more aware that he is a man with ideas and thoughts and not an nimal.
Grant helps Jefferson to Identify himself as a man by giving him a voices to be heard. Being a man Is about recognizing that one Is a man first. Grant In many ways had not fully recognized his own manhood. Grant explains to Jefferson that a hero Is above other men because he thinks of others before himself. Although he understands the definition, he does not live it. He wants to live for himself. He starts a bar fght in the Rainbow Room, believing he was doing it in defense of Jefferson. In fact, Grant was only thinking of himself never noticing how he hurt others.
Not only id he tear up the bar, Vivian had to leave her Job early to come drag him out. Following Grant’s criterion, Rev. Ambrose Is a hero, having put his entire congregation before himself. Jefferson also has the potential to do something for others that they could not do for themselves. He can make Miss Emma happy by eating her gumbo. He can chip away at the myth of white superiority and show everyone – both white and black – that he is a man. ” “At the beginning of the novel, Grant is convinced that any dignity he has comes from his high level of education.

This attitude prevents him rom getting through to Jefferson, who is of significantly lower social status than Grant. It also brings him Into conflict with Reverend Ambrose, who believes that dignity can only come from faith in God”at the Christmas pageant, Ambrose even implies that Grant is no better than Jefferson, because neither man has faith. By the end of the novel, both men learn from Jefferson that dignity is intrinsic and comes from loving and being loved, and does not come from external sources like religion or education. ” 3. I can see the parallels between Jefferson and Jesus.
Both were innocent men who were executed. In chapter 28, Jefferson seems to see that parallel himself when he says to Grant, “Your cross, Nannans cross, my own cross…. You’all axe a lot, Mr. Wiggins… .Who ever card my cross? ” It is Grant who has learned a lesson, though: “My eyes were closed before this moment, Jefferson. My eyes have been closed all my life. Yes, we all need you. Every last one of us. ” As for scriptural connotations of the word “lesson,” all I can think of Is that Jesus was called “rabbi,” or teacher. HIS method of “teaching” was to tell stories, or what we might call today “object lessons. These stories are classified as parables. In a sense, A Lesson Before Dying is itself a parable. Indeed, in one of his parables, Jesus taught “don’t cast your pearls before swine,” which is exactly how Grant felt at the beginning. Why teach someone so ungrateful of his help. He comes to learn, however, that redemption belongs to everyone. could not have done things with thought. He is trying to help but had deprived animal. Grant helps Jefferson to identify himself as a man by giving him a voices to be heard. Being a man is about recognizing that one is a man first. Grant in many ways had not fully recognized his own manhood.
Grant explains to Jefferson that a hero is Following Grant’s criterion, Rev. Ambrose is a hero, having put his entire congregation Grant. It also brings him into conflict with Reverend Ambrose, who believes that dignity can only come from faith in God–at the Christmas pageant, Ambrose even himself when he says to Grant, “Your cross, Nannan’s cross, my own cross… . You’all axe a lot, Mr. Wiggins… .Who ever car’d my cross? ” It is Grant who has learned a connotations of the word “lesson,” all I can think of is that Jesus was called “rabbi,” or teacher. His method of “teaching” was to tell stories, or what we might call today