Grant Wiggins in the main character in A Lesson Before Dying by Gaines. He is an African American school teacher that has graduated from university and returned to his raciest hometown in Louisiana. Racism is a major theme in the novel since the story revolves around an innocent black man, Jefferson, sentenced to execution by all white men for a crime he didn’t commit. Grant becomes involved as he is sent to “teach” Jefferson that he is not a hog while he awaits his execution. Through the novel a change can be seen Grant as he visits Jefferson in jail.

Grant is resentful to live in his town as a school teacher as the town looks down upon blacks and treats them as inferior. His resentment is strongly shone as he wait to speak with the Sherriff about visiting Jefferson: “ ‘Been waiting long?’ [Sherriff] Sam Guidry asked me. ‘About two and a half hours, sir’. I said. I was supposed to say, ‘Not long,’ and I was supposed to grin; but I didn’t do either” (47). This is especially upsetting to Grant, a university graduate. He often contemplates running away with Vivian, Grant’s lover, but continually decides against it because she does not agree to accompany him. Here we start to see Grant as a self-centered character. His selfishness can also be seen in his initial bitterness about visiting Jefferson in jail, which Miss Emma desperately desires: “ ‘You’re saying I’m supposed to visit him alone? He’s no kin –‘ “(77) The first visits with Miss Emma and his aunt are extremely miserable and anger Grant. His anger is taken out on the young students which he teaches: “Every little thing was irritating me. I caught one of the students trying to figure out a simple multiplication problem on his fingers, and I slashed him hard across the butt with this Westcott ruler. He jerked around too fast and looked at me too angrily for my liking” (35). It appears that Grant wants to ensure that his students become something more than field workers and do not share the fate of Jefferson.

After the initial painful visits to the jail cell, Grant is told he will be visiting Jefferson alone now with the task to make him understand he is a human being and not a hog which the court accused him of. Grant and Jefferson’s first encounter shows that Grant has to find a way to get through to Jefferson. “ ‘I’m an old hog,’ he said, more to himself than to me. ‘Just a old hog they fattening up to kill for Christmas. ‘You’re a human being, Jefferson. You’re a man.’ He kept his eyes on m as he got up from the bunk. ‘I’m go’n show you how a old hog eat,’ he said. He knelt down on the floor and put his head inside the bag and starting eating, without using his hands. He even sounded like a hog”(83). Although the visits are not successful Grant continues to go back and feels that something has to be done. Through these visits a change can be seen Grant as he become dedicated to his task. Jefferson also begins to see the reason for Grant’s dedication. The two men become connected as Jefferson writes his diary and it finally seen how he feels about his situation: “you say jus say whats on my mind so one day you can be save an you can save the chiren and i say i don’t kno what you mean and you say i do kno what you mean an you look so tied sometime mr wigin i just feel like tellin you i like you but i dont kno how to say this cause i aint never say it to nobody before an nobody aint never say it to me” (228).

Grant has developed a strong bond with Jefferson and decides against attending the execution, even though he knows going is the right thing to do. Jefferson is saddened by the decision and openly cries. It appears that Grant has made a difference in Jefferson his visits. Jefferson writes in his diary on the morning of his execution: “ sky blu blu mr wigin / good by mr wigin tell them im strong tell them im a man good by mr wigin im gon ax paul if he can bring you this / sincely jefferson” (234).

Jefferson’s trial and execution prove to Grant that change has to occur; the black community needs better treatment. In his eyes Jefferson is important to this change; he is the hero for the community. As the novel ends, it appears that Grant has a wider perspective than before on racism. Now he is more focused on helping the entire community rather than just himself. However, Grant continues to act selfishly as in individual. The change is seen in Grant’s relationship and dedication to Jefferson. Although still selfish, Grant realizes the need for change.


Works cited

Gaines, Ernest J. A Lesson Before Dying. New York : Vintage Books, 1993. 256. Print.