A Lesson Before Dying Analysis

Throughout my Junior year I have come across many pieces of American literature. When the question of “What makes American literature American?” Is asked, my answer is that the ideals and virtues (both positive and negative) embedded within the writing is what makes it American. American literature consists of tales of hard work, of standing up for personal belief, of the American Dream, but also consist of our corrupt Judicial system, of our past struggles with one another in terms of race, of how the American Dream is possible through hard work but that work might not always be considered “right.” The Americanality of American literature is not determined by the author of the piece, but of the morals that shine through in the piece.

We learn that although he did work hard for his earnings he worked hard in a corrupt manor, taking place in illegal activities. In A Lesson Before Dying, we learn of a black man found guilty before being proven guilty only because of the color of his skin. The man accused struggles internally but eventually comes to peace with his struggles. In The Declaration of Independence, we learn how America came together to fight the Crown, to break free from the shackles placed on us by the British which did not allow us to move past and thrive, in order to become the great nation we longed to be. In these pieces of American literature we see glimpses of what being American really means. Being American means that you accept your past and learn from it, that hard work can lead to living your dreams, that with our unalienable rights we can stand up to anything! But… it also means that there will be battles with temptation of doing wrong in order to reach your goal faster, that our past is not something that is easily accepted and can glide its way into your future, that there will be endless trials and tribulations in order to have our goal within