A Lesson Before Dying 2
In the novel, A Lesson Before Dying, By Ernest Gaines, the main character, Grant Wiggins gives a man meaning in his last days alive. Wiggins gives him a book to write his thoughts in, and helps him to realize that he is not a "hog." He shows him that he is truly a good person, and that he should die with his head up, knowing that he led a worthy and honest life. Mr. Wiggins changed greatly through the story, from a cold school teacher to an open hearted and caring man. This helped his relationship with others as well as Jefferson. Through his changing, he became the one man that Jefferson could trust.In a rural town in Louisiana in the late 1940's a poorly educated young black man, Jefferson, is in the wrong place at the wrong time: he is in a bar with two friends when they murder the white bartender. Jefferson is unfairly convicted of murder and sentenced to the electric chair by a white judge and jury. His defense lawyer, in an attempt to ward off the death sentence, labels him a "hog"--and it is this label that Jefferson's godmother wants disproved. She enlists the help of a plantation school teacher, Grant Wiggins, who at first isn't too keen on the idea of helping a crook. Wiggins agrees to talk with Jeff
At first, Mr. Wiggins was not very concerned about Jefferson He just wanted to pass the time he had to spend with him. Before long, he began to think of what it would feel like to be a dead man, and what he could do to make the time Jefferson had left be the best it could for him. This was the greatest achievement Mr. Wiggins accomplished in the entire book. He managed to be able to have pity upon Jefferson without empathy. After the point in which he discussed the ice cream and the radio with Jefferson, and Jefferson admitted for the first time that he was more than a hog, Mr. Wiggins truly cared. Mr. Wiggins developed greatly during the course of this story, along with other characters featured in the story. Vivian met new people and increased the quality of her relationship with Mr. Wiggins, Miss Emma finally got to see someone stand for her, Tante Lou learned that she had a decent nephew after all, and Jefferson got off of his four legs and stood. Wiggins begins his teaching as he has taught for years, which is not allowing it to change his life. However, as he continues to teach Jefferson, he not only speaks, but starts to listen and learn. Jefferson sees that he should let Wiggins into his life, and he starts to change. "I saw a slight smile come to his face, and it was not a bitter smile. Not bitter at all." A hog can't show emotions, but a man can. At this moment, he developed from a hog to a man. This is the focal point of the story, and from this point on, both men look at life completely differently. There is the epiphany of the story, where Mr. Wiggins realizes that the purpose of life is to help make the world a better place, and at
Some common words found in the essay are:
Grant Wiggins, Jefferson Wiggins, Miss Emma, Jefferson Jefferson, African Americans, Jeffersonp135 Wiggins, Tante Lou, Jefferson GrantIf, miss emma, Ernest Gaines, , found innocent, grant wiggins, smile bitter, tante lou, school teacher,
Approximate Word count = 1126
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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