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A Lesson Before Dying
by Ernest J. Gaines
Two black men forge a bond as one works to impart to the other a sense of pride and dignity.
A young black man named Jefferson has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit. The story, set in a small Cajun town in the 1940s, follows two men, Jefferson and his teacher, Grant Wiggins. Grant is an educated black man who is persuaded to spend time with Jefferson, to instill in the younger man a sense of pride in who he is and where he comes from. Through Grant’s eyes, we see the situation of African Americans in this period in history. We also witness Jefferson’s growth as a man, as he becomes aware of his own value as a human being. The two men never question Jefferson’s fate—they never hope to appeal the sentence or overturn the judge’s ruling. Their purpose is not to rebel, at least not openly. Their defiance is subtler, and far more effective. Grant’s purpose is to help Jefferson find the dignity and grace to die like a man, to give the black community something to draw a sense of pride from.
I came away from this novel with mixed emotions. To understand the novel, readers must first discard the expectation that the protagonist will take decisive, obvious action for what he believes in, a lesson that Grant himself must learn. Grant and Jefferson seemed like ineffectual characters, unable to do more than mourn a senseless loss to an already beleaguered community. But then I realized that their lack of open rebellion and Grant’s insistence that Jefferson go to the end with dignity were far more effective to their cause. Jefferson must be lost for a higher cause. If he can die with pride and humanity, the white man’s expectations and prejudices will be challenged in a way that cannot be shrugged off, even by them.
Once it's clear why Jefferson has to die, Gaines’ novel really hits home. The book’s lesson about human dignity is a valuable one.
Title: A Lesson Before Dying
Author: Ernest J. Gaines
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN: 0375702709
Review written by: Jess Boettger
Reviewer's Rating:7.5
Reader's Rating: 0
Reader's Votes: 0
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