Grant Wiggins In Ernest J. Gaines A Lesson Before Dying

In the first half of A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines, the main character, Grant Wiggins is informed of the impending execution of Jefferson, a young black boy living in the community. Grant is asked by Jefferson’s godmother, Miss Emma, to teach him that he is a man before he is killed. At the beginning of the book, Jefferson’s trial takes place, and in a failed attempt to save his live, Jefferson’s attorney refers to him as hog that lacks the intelligence to plan a robbery that elaborate. In my opinion, the attorney’s argument did more harm than good, since it only degraded Jefferson, without saving him from the death penalty. His statements to the twelve white men on the jury made no impact on their decision since they had already made up their minds before entering. …show more content…
As the story progressed, I realized that Grant is not arrogant when he has an attitude towards Tante Lou and Miss Emma, but he feels like he cannot fulfill Miss Emma’s request of making Jefferson a man. While at a bar with the love of his life Vivian, he states in frustration, “I’m supposed to make him a man. Who am I? God?” which shows that he does not think he can make an impact on Jefferson before he dies (31). I lost some respect for Grant when I found out that Vivian was separated from her husband but not divorced, but he had no problem having an intimate relationship with her. I think they both should have waited until she was at least divorced since there are children involved, and no one knows how Vivian’s husband will react to it