Examples Of Heroism In A Lesson Before Dying

A Lesson Before Dying

The main character of the story is Grant, and the novel revolves around the growth of his character as he works with Jefferson; and from these interactions the plot moves forward to talk about being an individual, fatalism, heroism and particularly social injustice. I will focus on the theme of social injustice in my analysis of “A Lesson Before Dying”.

At the beginning of the story we get a glimpse of Grant, and learn that he is a very angry and frustrated person that only cares for himself, and this leaves him bitter and without a real direction in life. The main reason Grant has become so bitter is because of the society that he lives in; despite going to college and earning his degree he is only allowed to teach other African-Americans and he feels that this is contributing to segregation in his society. He is angry at the community he lives in because of the burdens placed on him and how his loyalty to his family does not let him follow his own desires to leave Louisiana. But, most of all, he hates himself because he feels so powerless to make any changes in the segregated society.

Grant’s selfishness is seen when he does not attend Jefferson’s trial; he does this because it has no real bearing in his own day to day life and because he sees no point in being present because he already knows what the result will be; which is where a fatalist point of view comes into play. Miss Emma approaches Grant about visiting Jefferson, and Grant refuses. He thinks that visiting Jefferson would be a waste of time, because his visit would not make any difference; also it would just be an inconvenience to Grant. Grant’s only real concern is for his relationship with Vivian, but this is also just another selfish ex...

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...ho brought so much change about within himself.

“I probably would not have noticed it at all had not a butterfly, a yellow butterfly with dark spots like ink dots on its wings, not lit there. What had brought it there? …I watched it fly over the ditch and down into the quarter, I watched it until I could not see it anymore. Yes, I told myself. It is finally over.”

At this point Grant realizes that Jefferson really did learn a ‘lesson before dying.’ When he says “It is finally over,” he is not only referring to Jefferson’s life, but also that his cowardly nature is “finally over.” He has once and for all taken a stand for what he believes in. This insures that he, too, has benefited from this entire experience. Jefferson’s life was sacrificed in order for the white people in the community to gain a better understanding of the value of the black members of society.