Erika Tyler
Dr. Broadous
PAS113B
4/25/12
The things that might or actually happend in this world
There are a lot of people in this
world that is struggling with their life and stress out because some people
lose their faith just like this quotes “Faith must be enforced by reason when
faith becomes blind it dies”. Jefferson in
a Lesson before Dying is the perfect example for this quote because he loses
his faith by living in racist society, nobody wants to help him because he’s a
black men. During this time of period Black people were slaves. There was no
freedom for them, so it is not surprise to know that they lose their faith
because of this harmful action that white people did.
Around 1940’s the black people were
forced to work without pay, under threat of violence, and they’re unable to
walk away. You can find them in factories, mines, farm fields, restaurants,
construction sites and private homes. Many slaves have been tricked by
traffickers who lure vulnerable people with false promises of good jobs or
education. Some slaves are marched to work at gunpoint. Slavery is illegal
everywhere, but it happens nearly everywhere. As you can see the main big part
about being slavery is a no freedom, no
choice and the last one is no money.
For example in the book, character
whose name is Dr.Joseph. Who is a superintendent of a school. Well Dr. Joseph sees the black children as physical laborers and implies
blacks should be working in the fields as they did when they were slaves. He
compliments Grant’s class by calling it a “good crop” racist language that
suggests Dr. Joseph thinks of the students as objects, not people just because
they are black.
At the beginning in this book, you
could already tell that Jefferson might lose his faith because he’s a black man
and he had to deal with the court which he knew he would get sended to the jail
because he’s a black guy and nobody wants to help him and even though grants
tries to help him it didn’t work because he’s a black men too. And especially
if everybody is white at the court it is no chance to get away from the trouble
that Jefferson hasn’t done.
In this book Ernest J. Gaines writes
about the black people’s lives. How they were back in. how they were treated by
people. What they thought while living during the slavery. In this book,
Jefferson is who had to face a court and jail even though he’s an innocent guy because
he is black in a racist society; the law will not help Jefferson. The jurors
are not even asked to consider the legality of the situation. Rather, they are
asked to acquit him because he is a pathetic creature for the white people. Black
man is guilty until proven innocent. Under the law, the prosecution has to
prove Jefferson’s guilt, but under the rules of convention in this racist
society, the prosecution must only concoct a vague theory based on no evidence.
Jefferson’s attorney defends his client not by using the evidence, but by
damning Jefferson as a hog and a fool too stupid to plan such a crime and all these
things cause Jefferson to lose his faith. In his diary he also explain that his
faith in friendship with Grant, not really in God. Jefferson doesn’t know he rather
put his faith in religion since a lot of people said different things to him
because in the book the characters will say “heaven does not exist for blacks,
but Reverend Ambrose says heaven is for all people” so this is why Jefferson wasn’t
sure about it.
Although at end before Jefferson die
he didn’t matter anything about what white people does to him. Mr. Pichot shows
some compassion toward Jefferson by offer to Sharpe his pencil and gives him
the knife as a gift. Also this guy name Guidry in the book offers to leave the
light on so Jefferson can write and he also allowed numerous visitors to see
Jefferson. All he cared and worries was about grant because grant is someone
who convinced Jefferson that he is a somebody that is a worth it and he also influence
to face his death with almost superhuman calm and understanding.
As matter fact before Jefferson died he
told grants that “you are a wonderful teacher for helping me” , but Grant says
that he did very little and that maybe Jefferson caused the change. And in his
diary Jefferson also said that he was singing and the blue sky in the last few
hours before his death. Before he died Jefferson transformation into a dignified,
compassionate exemplary human being and also he becomes more strongly identified
with god before he died. He became very strong men in the room. He also made Grants thoughts about Jefferson
in major difference because in the final chapter grant asks Jefferson to
forgive him and says, “My faith is in you, jefferson”. As For Grant, Jefferson
has become a hero to emulate in times of despair.
