Analysis: A Lesson Before Dying

In A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines, the idea that guidance is needed to help people who have falling in despair and they need to regain their sense of purpose. Chipping away at ignorance is needed so that the true potential of the individual is revealed. This ignorance is caused by the submission of the portion of society to a higher power who abuses said power. Grant Wiggins in the book A Lesson Before Dying, has started to lose his purpose of staying in his little town and teaching in the plantation school. The kids seem to have no progress with his teachings and even though he has gained some power through an education his social relationship with the whites has not changed. All the goals and dreams he had in mind when he decided …show more content…
Vivian states, “‘We’re teachers, and we have a commitment.’” Grant response by stating “‘You hit the nail on the head there, lady-commitment. Commitment to what-to live and die in this hellhole, when we can leave and live like other people?’” (Gaines 29). It is a characterization of what Grant says and what others respond to his actions. Grant is speaking to Vivian and his aunt who wants him to stay in the town by stating his need to find gratitude by other people and living life without any struggles. This will result in Grant taking upon the belief that Mr. Antoine and a lack of effort to help Jefferson. The Grant starts to only value freedom to be happy and set his own responsibilities so he is not stuck or committed to an unwanted lifestyle. This is similar to the need of people to actually take up the commitment of being the person to guide society in the right path because for some it seems like a useless task. Grant beliefs that his commitment of a teacher is the thing that is making his life miserable and he refuses to take responsibility to get rid of the ignorance for the consequences that come with that …show more content…
Antoni. He will be able to gain the power he needs to be able to have an influence in society and guide his people out of ignorance through his education. Mr. Antoni’s words start to have no effect on Grant who through tremendous effort and commitment starts to see the rewards that come with taking the responsibility of guiding people. Grant finally starts to see progress in the dayroom as he and Jefferson walk around the cell. As they do this his aunt, Mrs. Emma and the minster are sitting at the table watching over them very carefully. Grant comes to a point in which he tries to explain and make Jefferson realize that he has a very important purpose in life. The whole purpose of his visits have been to convince Jefferson that he is no hog but a human being who has a purpose in life. He starts to try to make some sense to Jefferson by stating that it “came from a piece of old wood that he found in the yard somewhere. And that’s all we are, Jefferson, all of us on this earth, a piece of drifting wood, until we-each one of us, individually-decide to become something else. I am still that piece of drifting wood, and those out there are no better” (Gaines