Gaines’ “A lesson before dying” takes places in a period where justice seemed unquenchable for the African American. Grant is bestowed the undesirable duty of helping Jefferson, who is wrongfully accused of the murder of a white man, to come to justice with himself after no justice was shown in his trial. Grant is able to search for justice, and understand it through his interactions with Jefferson, friends, and family.
Grant’s view on justice is giving someone what they deserve. Grant is visiting Jefferson in the big room, and they start walking and Grant tells him ‘“No matter how bad bad off we are,” I said,”we still owe something to someone, You owe something, Jefferson. Not to me. Surely not to that sheriff out there. But to your godmother.”(Gaines.139) …show more content…
Justice for Ms.Emma was to see jefferson walking on his own feet to his execution. While incarcerated Grant does his best to turn Jefferson “into a man.” After Jefferson’s execution Paul, the deputy, tell him this ‘“I don't know what you're going to say when you go back in there. But tell them he was the bravest man in that room today."’(Gaines.31)
Jefferson was braver than any white or black man for his own death, that is the Justice Ms.Emma wanted. And to be fair Grant was the one who was able to initiate something with Jefferson with lead to this point of the story. Even though the one being is helped is Jefferson, Grant was able to learn from his search for justice. What Grant learned from his search for justice was to never give up. Since when he initiated his interactions with Jefferson, he always had giving up in the back of his mind. After the execution Paul tells him this, “I saw the transformation, Grant Wiggins,” he said.” Grant did not give up and that was the reason Jefferson changed.
I believe that Grant was able to find justice because he created the justice, he helped people who did not believe that justice would be served. Grant’s view of justice, which is giving what people deserved, could be seen with his interactions with Jefferson and
Grant’s view on justice is giving someone what they deserve. Grant is visiting Jefferson in the big room, and they start walking and Grant tells him ‘“No matter how bad bad off we are,” I said,”we still owe something to someone, You owe something, Jefferson. Not to me. Surely not to that sheriff out there. But to your godmother.”(Gaines.139) …show more content…
Justice for Ms.Emma was to see jefferson walking on his own feet to his execution. While incarcerated Grant does his best to turn Jefferson “into a man.” After Jefferson’s execution Paul, the deputy, tell him this ‘“I don't know what you're going to say when you go back in there. But tell them he was the bravest man in that room today."’(Gaines.31)
Jefferson was braver than any white or black man for his own death, that is the Justice Ms.Emma wanted. And to be fair Grant was the one who was able to initiate something with Jefferson with lead to this point of the story. Even though the one being is helped is Jefferson, Grant was able to learn from his search for justice. What Grant learned from his search for justice was to never give up. Since when he initiated his interactions with Jefferson, he always had giving up in the back of his mind. After the execution Paul tells him this, “I saw the transformation, Grant Wiggins,” he said.” Grant did not give up and that was the reason Jefferson changed.
I believe that Grant was able to find justice because he created the justice, he helped people who did not believe that justice would be served. Grant’s view of justice, which is giving what people deserved, could be seen with his interactions with Jefferson and