A Lesson Before Dying Jefferson Analysis

Dignity is a quality that one learns that they are worthy of respect and honor. When people are treated like animals all their life, they tend to believe until they learn they have worth. In the novel, A Lesson Before Dying Jefferson, Grant, and Paul are characters who learn about dignity, self-worth and the hope for equality throughout Jefferson’s sentence and execution. Jefferson’s death sentence allows him to accept his own self-worth and helps him realize his value as a human; it also transforms Grant’s cynicism into hope for a better future where he and his community are treated equally. Paul symbolizes a hope for the black community that white people can be respectful, kind and accepting. Jefferson was a young black man who grew …show more content…
In the novel, A Lesson Before Dying Jefferson, Grant and Paul are characters who learn about dignity, self-worth and the hope for equality throughout the sentence and after Jefferson’s execution. Gandhi said, “Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions.” Jefferson’s struggle to accept his humanity spurred on the transformation of Grant, empowering him to hope for more not only for himself and his community but for the progress of the white community to change their racist behavior. Jefferson and Grant changed their point of view and, therefore, their whole reality was changed as Grant said, “My eyes were closed before this moment…” (184) Death opened their eyes and their hearts to their own self-worth and dignity and to the hope that love could transcend the hate they known all their lives. Though tragic, death brought life and light to the hearts and minds of the characters and brought them closer to their inner