A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

Written by Ernest J. Gaines, the novel A Lesson before Dying is a wonderful piece of literature that brings to life a very thought-provoking and inspiring message. Through the eyes of the main character, an educated teacher named Grant, the reader anticipates that a transformation will be made in Jefferson, a young African American male waiting to be executed. When Grant is asked by Jefferson's godmother to meet with Jefferson in hopes of making him "know he's not a hog, he's a man" (Gaines, 21) it is expected that by novel's end the low-literate Jefferson will have broken free from the label society has placed upon him. By his final day, however, it becomes clear that it was not only Jefferson needing to learn a lesson, but Jefferson ultimately teaches a lesson. The reader is left with the rather important realization that, literate or not, a person has within them the ability to communicate effectively. Though his communication may not come through traditional, coherent, mediums, Jefferson proves that the most unsuspecting person can teach even the most successful person an important life lesson.

A quote about literacy that A Lesson before Dying easily negates is, "Those who are truly literate have opportunities for growth, advancement, and success. Those with low-level literacy or who are illiterate are without the skills to change their situations, or, even worse, without the ability to recognize that their situation could be changed or different." While the beliefs in this quote are what most characters in the novel believe, the reader can see that by novel's end, Jefferson is a prime example as to why this simply is not true. Although Jefferson lacks the ability to write in proper, grammatical English, he still manages to give a voice to the words in his head. Jefferson having low-level literacy in no way made him any less of a person; it is the society in which he lives that dehumanizes him. Grant, similar in the fact that he is also African American, but different in the fact that he is well-educated, still has to face the dehumanization of his community, albeit on a lesser scale. However, that is not to say that he was not treated as lesser of a person; simply because Jefferson is African American as well as uneducated gives his community more of a reason to rob him of his humanity.

The quote states that those "...who are illiterate are without the skills to change their situations" and while many believe this to be true of Jefferson, it is in no way an accurate depiction of his character. Upon Grant's first few meetings at the jail, it becomes evident that Jefferson has closely taken to heart all that the community has said about him. He sits in his cell with "his eyes on the ceiling" (Gaines, 73) completely ignoring both his godmother, Miss. Emma, as well as Grant. Jefferson only speaks to ask a question about his upcoming execution, questioning Grant about whether he will be the one to "jeck that switch" (Gaines, 74). When Grant makes his first visit to Jefferson on his own, Sheriff Guidry makes it quite clear that these meetings are seemingly useless when he asks Grant "Still think you can get something into that head of his" (Gaines, 81). While at one point Grant confesses to his girlfriend Vivian that he doesn't think he is capable of transforming Jefferson into a man because he himself doesn't know what constitutes manhood, he presses on and continues to meet with Jefferson, if only to please his Tante Lou.

Jefferson fully believes he is not human, and this is clearly seen countless times when he refers to himself as a 'hog', the title the community has placed upon him. Over time and through their meetings together, Jefferson begins to open up. In the final chapters of the novel, the reader is able to see that Jefferson no longer wallows in self-pity. What begins to form between Grant and Jefferson is a give and take relationship where both men are able to learn and teach one another. Jefferson begins to question