A Lesson Before Dying Analysis

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A Lesson Before Dying Study Guide

As I put this book down, I felt both sad and enlightened.

As I sat there having completed A Lesson before Dying, I thought to myself that inner strength and faith cannot be taught, it comes from within.

1. Historical Context:

The story takes place in a small Cajun town in Louisiana in the 1940's. The story mainly takes place in the Quarter, area on the plantation where the black people who work there reside, and in Bayonne, the town nearest the plantation. Life for African American people in this era was one of segregation. Though slavery was over, they still were not treated with respect or equality.

2. Antebellum – A period before war. Usually associated with the Civil War.

Relating to the story, the term antebellum, I would think, is referring to this period of time before the civil rights movement began in the 50's and 60's. I believe this because of Jefferson being wrongly accused and sent to a trial of "his peers" which were all white men, his defense lawyer portraying him as non-human and unintelligent, and Jefferson being sentenced to death. I believe that this era of injustice, inequality, and prejudice is the precursor to the civil rights movement or the war against prejudice, injustice, and inequality.

3. The closing argument made by Jefferson's lawyer consisted of him telling the jury to just look at Jefferson, examine him. He goes on to say that he is not a man, even though he has reached the age of 21 which when "we" (meaning white people) civilized men are considered to become men. His lawyer called him a boy and a fool who doesn't know right from wrong. He asks the jury to look in Jefferson's eyes to prove his point that no intelligence lies there. He also refers to Jefferson as a cornered animal, a trait inherited from his African Ancestors. The lawyer's defense is that Jefferson is too stupid to have planned a robbery and murder. He asks what justice would be served by taking Jefferson's life; it would be like putting a hog in that chair.

4. My response to this argument is that I am disgusted. If Jefferson were a white man in this same situation, the defense lawyer would be looking into actual evidence to proclaim the innocence of his client. Because Jefferson is black, his lawyer doesn't bother to bring up any evidence that could get him off, he doesn't bring any character witnesses for Jefferson, he doesn't do anything that a good and non-prejudice lawyer would.

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