A Lesson Before Dying Critique
A Lesson Before Dying
By Ernest J. Gaines
Critique
Ernest J. Gaines was born in 1933 on a Louisiana plantation in the midst
of the Great Depression. As a young boy of 9, he began his work in the fields.
He spent his childhood digging potatoes, and for a days labor was rewarded
with 50 cents. He was raised during this time by his aunt, Augusteen Jefferson,
who showed Gaines a determination most of us could only dream of, as she
cared for her family with no legs to support her. At age 15, after moving to
Vallejo, California with his parents, Gaines discovered the joy of the public
library. The library greatly influenced his decision to become an author. While A Lesson Before Dying was written in an attempt to show how
much racial tension there was at the time, Gaines also managed to show how
one can stay close to his roots. I feel that the book was also written as a
dedication to his aunt, to show how the courage of one person can affect
everyone around them. The book also shows in the protagonist's (Grant)
internal conflicts, that one must remain true to their heritage. It illustrates that
knowledge is important, but knowledge isn't just a GED. How can one move
forward in life without knowing their family's previous mistakes? To quote
George Santayana, "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." What grasped me most about the novel was Gaines' way of showing his
readers that you have the ability to not only face mistakes in your past with
bravery, but to turn and show the same backbone when looking as to what
your future may hold. For instance, Jefferson has to relive the simple mistake
of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Though wrongly accused he
was, Jefferson was also able to face his execution like a man, showing
unbelievable strength toward his postexistence. Grant, on the other hand, had
always thought about his future. His
By Ernest J. Gaines
Critique
Ernest J. Gaines was born in 1933 on a Louisiana plantation in the midst
of the Great Depression. As a young boy of 9, he began his work in the fields.
He spent his childhood digging potatoes, and for a days labor was rewarded
with 50 cents. He was raised during this time by his aunt, Augusteen Jefferson,
who showed Gaines a determination most of us could only dream of, as she
cared for her family with no legs to support her. At age 15, after moving to
Vallejo, California with his parents, Gaines discovered the joy of the public
library. The library greatly influenced his decision to become an author. While A Lesson Before Dying was written in an attempt to show how
much racial tension there was at the time, Gaines also managed to show how
one can stay close to his roots. I feel that the book was also written as a
dedication to his aunt, to show how the courage of one person can affect
everyone around them. The book also shows in the protagonist's (Grant)
internal conflicts, that one must remain true to their heritage. It illustrates that
knowledge is important, but knowledge isn't just a GED. How can one move
forward in life without knowing their family's previous mistakes? To quote
George Santayana, "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." What grasped me most about the novel was Gaines' way of showing his
readers that you have the ability to not only face mistakes in your past with
bravery, but to turn and show the same backbone when looking as to what
your future may hold. For instance, Jefferson has to relive the simple mistake
of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Though wrongly accused he
was, Jefferson was also able to face his execution like a man, showing
unbelievable strength toward his postexistence. Grant, on the other hand, had
always thought about his future. His