A Lesson Before Dying
By Ernest J. Gaines
A Lesson Before Dying is a novel about a black man named Jefferson who is accused of robbing and murdering a white liquor store owner. Hoping for Jefferson's innocence the jury finds Jefferson guilty and puts him in a jail until the date is set for his execution. Jefferson takes the defense attorney words to heart, "What justice would there be to take this life? Justice, gentlemen? Why, I would just as soon put a hog in the electric chair as this.", and he no longer believes that he is a human. In the fictional town of Bayonne, Louisiana, the narrator, Grant Wiggins, speaks about a 21-year-old man who has been falsely charged with the murder of a white liquor store owner. Jefferson's defense attorney points out that Jefferson simply a fool to commit the murder, and executing him would be a waste of time because he is nothing more than a hog. Jefferson was simply at the wrong place and time. Nevertheless, Jefferson is convicted and sentenced to death by the electric chair.
Grant is a black schoolteacher who lives and teaches in the quarter, a poor black community thirteen miles away from Bayonne. Grant’s aunt, Tante Lou is best friends with Miss Emma, Jefferson's godmother. The day after the trial, Miss Emma asks Grant to visit Jefferson in prison, hoping that he can teach her godson to become a man before he dies. Although Jefferson is reluctant to get involved, Tante Lou insists that he cooperate. Miss Emma appeals to Henri Pichot, a local plantation owner who is married to the sheriff's sister, to allow Grant to visit Jefferson. He receives Emma coldly but agrees, when she reminds him of all the work she has done for the family. Grant's girlfriend, Vivian, encourages him to teach Jefferson, for her sake.
On Grant's first few visits with Jefferson, he is annoyed by the prison's search procedures and segregated bathrooms, which he feels are degrading. Worse, Jefferson refuses to speak to Grant or Miss Emma. Grant gets to know Deputy Paul Bonin, who is more sympathetic to Jefferson than the other police officers. Grant reprimands Jefferson for making Miss Emma cry with his stubbornness, but Jefferson only responds by saying rude things. Jefferson continues to show little progress, but Grant perseveres due to Vivian's encouragement. At Grant's school, the children hold a Christmas pageant dedicated to Jefferson.
A date is set in April for Jefferson's execution. This angers Grant, but he is unable to bring the news to Miss Emma, allowing Reverend Ambrose to do it instead. On Grant's next visit to Jefferson, Jefferson has a civilized but sad conversation with Grant. Jefferson is very happy to receive the radio and plays it all day, but Tante Lou and Reverend Ambrose are furious at the new "sin box." They believe it turns Jefferson away from God and makes him reluctant to spend time with them. Grant argues with them, insisting that the radio is helping Jefferson to behave more civil. Grant visits Jefferson, and finds that he has been writing his thoughts down in a notebook that Grant gave him. In "Jefferson's Diary," which is written with very flawed grammar and spelling. It includes memories from his childhood, as well as musings about dignity and whether God prefers white people to black people. From the diary, we learn that Grant has had the schoolchildren and many townspeople come to visit Jefferson, and that Jefferson is deeply touched by their concern for him.
Reverend Ambrose witnesses the execution, but Grant does not have the courage to do so, and instead goes to the school, and tells his students to pray at the approximate time the execution will take place. Deputy Paul comes to visit Grant after the execution has happened, delivering Jefferson's diary and informing him that Jefferson faced his fate with great strength and dignity, "he walked straight". He adds that he hopes to stay friends with Grant, and one day he would like to read Jefferson's diary.
Grant is a black schoolteacher who lives and teaches in the quarter, a poor black community thirteen miles away from Bayonne. Grant’s aunt, Tante Lou is best friends with Miss Emma, Jefferson's godmother. The day after the trial, Miss Emma asks Grant to visit Jefferson in prison, hoping that he can teach her godson to become a man before he dies. Although Jefferson is reluctant to get involved, Tante Lou insists that he cooperate. Miss Emma appeals to Henri Pichot, a local plantation owner who is married to the sheriff's sister, to allow Grant to visit Jefferson. He receives Emma coldly but agrees, when she reminds him of all the work she has done for the family. Grant's girlfriend, Vivian, encourages him to teach Jefferson, for her sake.
On Grant's first few visits with Jefferson, he is annoyed by the prison's search procedures and segregated bathrooms, which he feels are degrading. Worse, Jefferson refuses to speak to Grant or Miss Emma. Grant gets to know Deputy Paul Bonin, who is more sympathetic to Jefferson than the other police officers. Grant reprimands Jefferson for making Miss Emma cry with his stubbornness, but Jefferson only responds by saying rude things. Jefferson continues to show little progress, but Grant perseveres due to Vivian's encouragement. At Grant's school, the children hold a Christmas pageant dedicated to Jefferson.
A date is set in April for Jefferson's execution. This angers Grant, but he is unable to bring the news to Miss Emma, allowing Reverend Ambrose to do it instead. On Grant's next visit to Jefferson, Jefferson has a civilized but sad conversation with Grant. Jefferson is very happy to receive the radio and plays it all day, but Tante Lou and Reverend Ambrose are furious at the new "sin box." They believe it turns Jefferson away from God and makes him reluctant to spend time with them. Grant argues with them, insisting that the radio is helping Jefferson to behave more civil. Grant visits Jefferson, and finds that he has been writing his thoughts down in a notebook that Grant gave him. In "Jefferson's Diary," which is written with very flawed grammar and spelling. It includes memories from his childhood, as well as musings about dignity and whether God prefers white people to black people. From the diary, we learn that Grant has had the schoolchildren and many townspeople come to visit Jefferson, and that Jefferson is deeply touched by their concern for him.
Reverend Ambrose witnesses the execution, but Grant does not have the courage to do so, and instead goes to the school, and tells his students to pray at the approximate time the execution will take place. Deputy Paul comes to visit Grant after the execution has happened, delivering Jefferson's diary and informing him that Jefferson faced his fate with great strength and dignity, "he walked straight". He adds that he hopes to stay friends with Grant, and one day he would like to read Jefferson's diary.