Historical Background to A Lesson Before Dying
Written by Ernest J. Gaines, A Lesson Before Dying, is a lengthy historical novel. The novel deals with racial discrimination, a grave problem in the United States of 40’s when Jim Crow Laws and segregation movements were ripping apart the American society specifically in the South where most of the events of the novel took place. The World War II started at the same time when the African-Americans were given a word that they would be equal to the whites in the post war period, while they were still considered second-class citizens. Segregation drives by the whites and the Ku Klux Klan were making the mess of things. Set in the Creole Louisianan background of that time, A Lesson Before Dying, presents a real picture of the Louisianan Creole society of the 40’s when segregation laws were gnawing at the very social fabric of that local community. The novel not only mentions several historical places but also very popular figures of the time such as Jackie Robinson, who was the first African American to play the Major League Baseball, and Joe Louis, a great African American boxer.
Summary of A Lesson Before Dying
The novel, A Lesson Before Dying, revolves around the execution of a black young man, Jefferson, who is charged for murdering a storekeeper, Alcee Grope. The narrator, Grant Wiggins, who happens to be his friend, tells that the evidences also point to Jefferson as the killer, though he has not committed the murder. The white jury turns against him and convicts him for murder and orders his death sentence through electrocution. It happens that Jefferson is insulted none other than this his own defense lawyer who terms him a hog, pleading that nothing good could be expected of him in such cases. This sort of plea was bound to backfire and it did.
Emma, the godmother of Jefferson meets Jeffrson’s friend Grant with his aunt Tante Lous to persuade him to teach Jefferson to be a good man in the jail, for he is working as a teacher. However, as African Americans, it is not easy for them to visit Jefferson in the jail. In this connection, Emma meets brother-in-law of the local sheriff, Henri Pichot, to get permission for Grant to meet Jefferson in the prison. Although several other happenings make the novel something interesting to read such as Grant’s meeting with his beloved, Vivian, the visit of his school superintendent and his advice, and the reminiscences of Grant, yet his own major preoccupation is meeting with Jefferson and teach him how to die with dignity.
During next few visits, Grant finds out that Jefferson is uncooperative, while living conditions also are not respectable. Jefferson really shows that he is a hog by crawling on his four legs in these worse conditions. When coming back, Grant hears about Jackie Robins and Joe Louis from some people. He immediately reaches the point that the people need heroes to keep their spirits high.
Meanwhile, Grant is accused by Tante Lou, Emma and Reverend Ambrose for lying about Jefferson. Therefore, on his next visit Grant is determined to teach Jefferson to live and die with dignity and honor. He meets deputy Paul who is somewhat sympathetic to Jefferson. When Grant meets Jefferson following this, he becomes highly rude and furious. Grant and Emma manages to meet Jefferson in a dayroom after the permission instead of the cell which has degrading conditions. Grant and Vivian continues making progress with the behavior of Jefferson, and he improves a bit with these efforts. Jefferson now asks Grant for ice cream, and radio which he brings in their next meeting. Although Tante Lou and Reverend Ambrose taunts Grant for giving Jefferson a radio, he defends his decision that Jefferson is learning civilized manners. Grant soon tries to put hero worship idea in the mind of Jefferson, explaining that hero is a person who thinks about his community first, saying that Jefferson should become a hero by keeping himself upright in the face of death. Jefferson takes his point and behaves civilly to them next time. Then Grant gives him a note book that Jefferson uses to record his thoughts though in clumsy writing. On the execution day, Grant goes to school while Reverend Ambrose goes to see the execution, who later informs others that Jefferson went to the electric chair with dignity and strength, a hero’s departure.
Author’s Message in A Lesson Before Dying
Through this historical novel, A Lesson Before Dying, the author Ernest J. Gaines, conveys a very important message that even if heaven falls, we should stick to our self-respect and dignity. Facing injustice with upright head and standing gait is not an insult, but a great way to show the world that despite injustice you have not lost to live in dignity. The last message of the Jefferson, that he has been shaking but has become strong despite going to the execution chair, shows that a person should not face or tolerate dehumanization of his soul and body through injustice. The implicit message is that African Americans also deserve better treatment by the public institutions.
Author’s Sources of Historical Information for A Lesson Before Dying
The author has taken historical information for A Lesson Before Dying from the 40’s when Jim Crow Laws were being implemented. The parks, shopping malls, hotels and restaurant were labelled with ‘Whites Only” or ‘Not for Colored People’. Marriages between the white and the blacks were declared illegal. Even the Jim Crow Laws were not consistent in their application. However, the story has its own sources. Gaines stated that his colleague had a young man as his client, and he was on the death row. Gaines instantly started making plans to portray that young man in his stories after his execution, which he told during his interview with Dan Stone, on August 2007. Dan Stone was working with National Endowment for the Arts.
Works Cited
Three Relevant Questions about A Lesson Before Dying: Historical Analysis
- In A Lesson Before Dying, how does the historical backdrop of the Jim Crow South during the 1940s impact the characters’ lives and decisions, and how does the title of the novel relate to the historical context presented in the story?
- What role does the concept of racial injustice and systemic racism play in A Lesson Before Dying, and how does the novel’s title allude to the broader historical struggles and lessons faced by African Americans during this period?
- Within the framework of A Lesson Before Dying, how does the novel explore the historical and cultural significance of education and literacy, particularly for African American communities in the segregated South, and how is this theme tied to the titular lesson presented in the story?
