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"A Lesson Before Dying" by Ernest J. Gaines takes place in the South, during the time of the Civil War as blacks started to gain there freedom. A black man by the name of Jefferson happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and was convicted of murdering a white bar tender. In front of the jury he was made to look like a fool by his own attorney. His attorney trying to plea the smphathtic role, made Jefferson out to be a "hog", which angered his mom. Thought he was still found guilty of the crime, his mother wanted him to dye a man not a "hog". So his mom had a school teacher by the name of Wiggins teach Jefferson that he wasn't a "hog", but a man. 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. At the beginning of the story when Jefferson's mom asks Wiggins to help Jefferson, Wiggins really didn't want to be bothered with him. He was fl!ustered with his job as a school teacher and sick in tried of not living life. Even thought he agreed to help Jefferson out, he still had no idea how he would do it. He took out his frustration on the children he taught, by telling them his problem. He s
------------------------------------------------------------------------ hing that made Jefferson a little happier. As the conversion kept going between them Jefferson started remembering the robber and started to get depressed. Wiggins than said, "Inez is still giving her fair up this quarter"(171) trying to get his mind off of the robbery. This starts to show that Wiggins is starting to care more and that Jefferson is starting to act like a man. Toward the end of the story Wiggins states to realize that he is reaching Jefferson and that Jefferson is starting to reach him. He says, "Your more than a man than I am, Jeff."(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. Heroic actions not neccerliy have to be big just talking to someone and listening is being heroic. Jefferson replied, "I'm go'n to do my best, Mr. Wiggins"(225) showing that he was going to be the best man he could possibly be. He had learned that he is a man and not a "hog". ! aid, " Do you know what his nannan wants me to do before they kill him?"(39) and "Suppose I was allowed to visit him, and suppose I reached him and made him realize that he was as much a man as any other man; then what, he
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Approximate Word count = 862
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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