The Character of Jefferson in A Lesson Before Dying :: A Lesson Before Dying, Ernest J. Gaines

Jefferson, a black man condemned to die by the electric chair in the novel, A Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J. Gaines, is perhaps the strongest character in Afri sack-American literature. Jefferson is a courageous young black man that a gore of all white men convicts of a murder he has non committed yet he shut up does non let this trouncing destroy his personal character. Ernest Gaines portrays Jefferson this way to illustrate the fundamental belief that domains defeats do not necessarily lead to his expiry. The author uses much(prenominal) actions as Jefferson still enjoying egressside comforts, showing compassion towards others, and trying to transgress himself before dying. These behaviors clearly show that although lodge may cast Jefferson out as a black murderer, he can still rapture somewhat knowing that he retains the qualities of a good human being.The stolon trait Jefferson demonstrates after his incarceration is the incident that he still enjoys the extracurricular comforts of small things such as a radio and diary. The fact that Jefferson still wants these things shows his imprisonment does not defeat him. In one of his end diary entries, Jefferson says , shef guiry ax me what I want for my super an I tol him I want nanan to cook me som okra an rice an som pok chop an a conbred an som claba (232). Jefferson still enjoys his aunts cooking, an outside pleasure from prison. The fact that he can still take pleasure from these small outside things clearly demonstrates that Jefferson enjoys a small victory over the world that has locked him away.The second characteristic that shows society does not defeat Jefferson is Jeffersons remaining strong compassion for everyone nearly him. This shows that through defeat, Jefferson remains a strong person by not holding any grudges against his incarcerators. A selection from his diary reads, This was the firs time I cry when they lok that door bahind me the very firs timeI was cryin cause o f the bok an the marble he giv me and cause o the people that com to see me (231). Jefferson displays tenderness, which is an obvious home that Jefferson has not let his imprisonment destroy him.The final attribute Gaines uses in A Lesson Before Dying to show Jeffersons lack of destruction is his trying to better himself before dying. Jefferson does this by repeatedly seeing accord Wiggins and Reverend Ambrose in prison before his execution.