Reading Reflection #1
The setting, in a Lesson Before Dying, written by Ernest J Gaines, taking place in Louisiana around the 1940s has much influence over Jefferson's standing trial. In the novel, Jefferson being "in the wrong place at the wrong time" resulted in him unintentionally viewing the murder of three men. Although not involved in the act of murdering any of the men, Jefferson was still found guilty and sentenced to death by electric chair. The discrimination of African-Americans during the 1940s is what ultimately led to Jefferson being accused of murder in first-degree. Jefferson's trial is an example of man vs society because Jefferson was found guilty solely because of the color of his skin. Not surprisingly, the jury, lawyer, and the judge involved in Jefferson's case were all white men, which proves the trial was a black man vs a white dominated American legal system: man vs society. …show more content…
Jefferson's attorney stated things such as "Look at this..." and "Would you call this a man...". As an "effort" to have Jefferson released, the attorney again belittles and humiliates Jefferson by comparing him to an animal, "Why, I would just as soon put a hog in the electrical chair as this". The attorney's strategy on defending Jefferson actually degrades him. Instead of giving logical reasons as to why Jefferson is not guilty, the attorney chooses to focus his argument on Jefferson being a fool that does not posses the capability or the intelligence to plan a
The setting, in a Lesson Before Dying, written by Ernest J Gaines, taking place in Louisiana around the 1940s has much influence over Jefferson's standing trial. In the novel, Jefferson being "in the wrong place at the wrong time" resulted in him unintentionally viewing the murder of three men. Although not involved in the act of murdering any of the men, Jefferson was still found guilty and sentenced to death by electric chair. The discrimination of African-Americans during the 1940s is what ultimately led to Jefferson being accused of murder in first-degree. Jefferson's trial is an example of man vs society because Jefferson was found guilty solely because of the color of his skin. Not surprisingly, the jury, lawyer, and the judge involved in Jefferson's case were all white men, which proves the trial was a black man vs a white dominated American legal system: man vs society. …show more content…
Jefferson's attorney stated things such as "Look at this..." and "Would you call this a man...". As an "effort" to have Jefferson released, the attorney again belittles and humiliates Jefferson by comparing him to an animal, "Why, I would just as soon put a hog in the electrical chair as this". The attorney's strategy on defending Jefferson actually degrades him. Instead of giving logical reasons as to why Jefferson is not guilty, the attorney chooses to focus his argument on Jefferson being a fool that does not posses the capability or the intelligence to plan a