Character Analysis: A Lesson Before Dying
A Lesson before Dying: What Makes an Educated Man? A Lesson before Dying is a memorable novel, set in Bayone, Louisiana in the 1940’s, about an uneducated, illiterate black man, Jefferson, who is falsely accused of murder and sentenced to death. While on trial, his defense attorney likened him to a hog, calling him nothing more than a fool and a cornered animal. Jefferson’s godmother wants him to become a man before he dies. She persuades two men, Grant Wiggins and Reverend Ambrose, to visit with Jefferson and teach him what it means to be a man. While both men desire the same outcome, they disagree about what it means to be an educated man. Grant believes that his college degree gives him all the knowledge he needs. However, Reverend Ambrose
…show more content…
He becomes a plantation teacher, completing the cycle of returning to his roots. While he is outraged with how other blacks are treated, he does not use his education to help the cause. Instead, he becomes angry and bitter. He does not believe he can help Jefferson and he does not want to get involved: “What do I say to him? Do I know what a man is? Do I know how a man is supposed to die? I 'm still trying to find out how a man should live. Am I supposed to tell someone how to die who has never lived?” (Gaines …show more content…
He is determined to put Grant in his place by calling him “boy” and telling him what he thinks of him, “When you act educated, I’ll call you Grant. I’ll even call you Mr. Grant, when you act like a man.” (Gaines 216) Reverend Ambrose is angry that Grant does not really see what Tante Lou has done for him. He is frustrated that with all of Grant’s education he still does not understand his people: “Cause reading, writing, and 'rithmetic is not enough. You think that 's all they sent you to school for? They sent you to school to relieve pain, to relieve hurt--and if you have to lie to do it, then you lie. You lie and you lie and you lie... You tell them that 'cause they have pain too, and you don 't want to add yours--and you lie.” (Gaines 218) Reverend Ambrose understands why Tante Lou made sacrifices to send Grant to college. She wanted Grant to return home and make a difference for his people. It makes Reverend Ambrose angry that someone as educated as Grant cannot really see how people really
He becomes a plantation teacher, completing the cycle of returning to his roots. While he is outraged with how other blacks are treated, he does not use his education to help the cause. Instead, he becomes angry and bitter. He does not believe he can help Jefferson and he does not want to get involved: “What do I say to him? Do I know what a man is? Do I know how a man is supposed to die? I 'm still trying to find out how a man should live. Am I supposed to tell someone how to die who has never lived?” (Gaines …show more content…
He is determined to put Grant in his place by calling him “boy” and telling him what he thinks of him, “When you act educated, I’ll call you Grant. I’ll even call you Mr. Grant, when you act like a man.” (Gaines 216) Reverend Ambrose is angry that Grant does not really see what Tante Lou has done for him. He is frustrated that with all of Grant’s education he still does not understand his people: “Cause reading, writing, and 'rithmetic is not enough. You think that 's all they sent you to school for? They sent you to school to relieve pain, to relieve hurt--and if you have to lie to do it, then you lie. You lie and you lie and you lie... You tell them that 'cause they have pain too, and you don 't want to add yours--and you lie.” (Gaines 218) Reverend Ambrose understands why Tante Lou made sacrifices to send Grant to college. She wanted Grant to return home and make a difference for his people. It makes Reverend Ambrose angry that someone as educated as Grant cannot really see how people really