Character Analysis: A Lesson Before Dying

ALBD Essay Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive (Dalai Lama.) Grant has a battle between love and hate. Having to go back to something that he isn’t, being treated somewhat like a slave, and making the ones around him happy. He must overcome his ego and fight for something he believes in. This is a difficult task because he isn’t completely sure what he believes, or who he is yet. His mission, to affirm that Jefferson is not a hog, but a man, and this milieu, manhood, is not only subversive but also fought over throughout the book A Lesson Before Dying. The definition of manhood, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is the state or time of being an adult male human, and showing the composite of qualities such as courage, determination, vigor, strength, and discipline. Grant must prove to Jefferson that he isn’t a hog but a man. This is hard at first because of how Jefferson acts, “He knelt down on the
floor and put his head inside the bag and started eating, without using his hands. He even sounded like a hog.” (Gains p.83) Now not only does this seem like a case of disillusionment, but a cry for help. Grant recognizes Jefferson’s pain and instead of just quitting of which he tries to do at first, he finds compassion and love for his Nannan, Miss Emma, and Vivian, that he begins to look for the meaning of humanity not only in Jefferson, but in himself. The definition of humanity, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is the condition of quality of being human, and the having the quality of being humane, or benevolence. Which means the ability to love and to know the difference between right and wrong, however for Grant this means having the strength to live with the actions of others, and being treated as a less than of a person at times. This seems like an almost meaningless mission because Jefferson acts like he doesn’t even care, but Grant is determine to get through to him and make him see he isn’t a hog and is a man. But how can a man who doesn’t know his own self help another find themselves? Well with the help of Vivian, Grant learns a little about his own self, and how to help Jefferson, “The only thing I believe in is loving you.” If he finds the love and compassion in his own self, then he will be able to help Jefferson find it within his heart too. Love and compassion are two qualities are necessities, not luxuries. Once Jefferson starts to feel the love from Grant, he begins to show that he is finding these qualities too, “Tell—tell the chirren thank you for the pe-pecans.” (Gains p.186) The milieu of humanity is really starting to show its true colors now that Jefferson is opening up, and is finding it in himself. Jefferson went from thinking of himself as a hog, “Youmans don’t stay in no stall like this.
I’m a old hog they fattening up to kill.” (Gains p.83) to finding his humanity, his love, and others compassion, “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. I’m a witness, Grant Wiggins. Tell them so.” (Gains p. 256) Grant was able to find himself with the help of Jefferson and with the help of Vivian, but also Jefferson found himself within the friendship and humanity Grant showed him. In my opinion both Grant and Jefferson found themselves and found their own humanity that day. There is hope and loves, in everybody, one just has to think and find it within their own self and within someone who you can relate to. “The man who is forever disturbed about the condition of humanity either has no problems of his own or has refused to face them.” (Henry Miller) Both of these men found themselves and the constant milieu of humanity in the
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