10/25/12. In the novel A Lesson Before dying ,Jefferson was called a hog by his lawyer for a reason. The reason as to why he was called a hog is because the lawyer was trying to help him not meaning purposely to lower Jefferson down. The lawyer was trying to prove to the judge that Jefferson was not worth killing. The lawyer was trying to make his opinion of the situation believable. He had to get into the laywer's head , so he said several devastating things about Jefferson to make him seem uneducated and dumb. He was letting the lawyer know that a "hog" like Jefferson could not have set up such a murder. A "hog" does not have any sense nor is it a man. A "hog" would have stood there at the crime not knowing what was going on or what to do. A "hog" does not have any knowledge or better yet intelligence. The lawyer just had to prove this statement to the judge making him understand that it was the same about Jefferson. All Miss Emma and Grant's aunt heard and understood was that the lawyer compared Jefferson to a "hog" and the fact that he was no man at all. The lawyer's plan backfired to them bacause they thought that the lawyer should have brought about the situation differently. To them,the lawyer did not have to call Jefferson a "hog" just to get his point across. He did not have to say that Jefferson was not a man. To Miss Emma and Grant's aunt , Jefferson was a man indeed , and he was a strong black man at that. But an animal. . .a "hog" , the lawyer did not have to stoop that low. The lawyer's plan also backfired because all the judge cared about was knowing that a white was killed and a black was still standing. The words that the lawyer was saying to the judge went through one ear and out the other. Obviously,while the trial was happening all the judge thought about was setting the date for Jefferson's death because as soon as the lawyer finished speaking the judge said that Jefferson would soon be sentenced to death in the electric chair.
"No body,but he who has felt it,can conceive what a plaguing thing it is to have a man's mind torn asunder by two projects of equal strength,both obstinately pulling in a contrary direction at the same time." What is said of this quote, is that only a man knows the feeling of his mind being pulled in two different directions. In the novel of A Lesson Before Dying,Grant-the teacher, was frustrated because he lived in a world that he wanted to escape from only deaming of happiness in another country. It was as if he was physically there,yet mentally gone. Grant wanted to leave, but deep down he knew he would not because he was needed at home. Tante Lou(his aunt), Miss Emma(Jefferson's godmother) , and Reverend Ambrose all needed Grant to stay and help teach Jefferson a lesson about being a man and the fact that he was no "hog" at all.
Grant did not want to help,he did not want to live in the town any longer. He also thought that teaching Jefferson would be useless because he would die anyway,and he would not learn anything from it at all. Each time Miss Emma and Tante Lou would ask Grant to visit Jefferson at the cell,he would always think of a better place to live. Grant wanted to be free and be treated like the man that he was. He wanted to be treated like someone..treated equal as the "whites." The only thing that made him stay and help was his girlfriend Vivian.
She would always tell Grant what she thought was right and the fact that he in deed needed to stay and help Jefferson. Grant did not visit Jefferson because it was the right thing to do , or because he had respect for Miss Emma , nor did he do it for himself. He did it because he had to. He visited Jefferson because Vivian , Miss Emma , Tante Lou , and the Reverend all depended on him. They all needed him to let Jefferson know that he was no "hog" and that he would die a man. They all needed Grant to help make that happen.
In the end Grant did all he could to let Jefferson know that he was a man and to stand tall when he did. He accomplished his task making everyone happy and satisfied. He did what he had to do even though deep down he wanted to leave and be free.
Grant did not want to help,he did not want to live in the town any longer. He also thought that teaching Jefferson would be useless because he would die anyway,and he would not learn anything from it at all. Each time Miss Emma and Tante Lou would ask Grant to visit Jefferson at the cell,he would always think of a better place to live. Grant wanted to be free and be treated like the man that he was. He wanted to be treated like someone..treated equal as the "whites." The only thing that made him stay and help was his girlfriend Vivian.
She would always tell Grant what she thought was right and the fact that he in deed needed to stay and help Jefferson. Grant did not visit Jefferson because it was the right thing to do , or because he had respect for Miss Emma , nor did he do it for himself. He did it because he had to. He visited Jefferson because Vivian , Miss Emma , Tante Lou , and the Reverend all depended on him. They all needed him to let Jefferson know that he was no "hog" and that he would die a man. They all needed Grant to help make that happen.
In the end Grant did all he could to let Jefferson know that he was a man and to stand tall when he did. He accomplished his task making everyone happy and satisfied. He did what he had to do even though deep down he wanted to leave and be free.
Resume
Raeana
Education:
· Boudreaux Elementary School graduate
· Meisler Middle School graduate
· West Jefferson High School-current student
Experience:
· Babysitting
· House Keeping
Volunteer Experience:
· Certificate of Appreciation 2011 free Thanksgiving Meal Event
· Volunteer Missionary
Achievements:
· High Honor Roll
· Outstanding Scholastic Achievement
· Excellence Award English II Class
· Cadet Captain in ROTC
Interests/Activities/Skills:
· West Jefferson High School Key Club 2012
· West Jefferson High School ROTC Drill Team 2010-2012
· Poetry Writing
References:
· Upon Request
Education:
· Boudreaux Elementary School graduate
· Meisler Middle School graduate
· West Jefferson High School-current student
Experience:
· Babysitting
· House Keeping
Volunteer Experience:
· Certificate of Appreciation 2011 free Thanksgiving Meal Event
· Volunteer Missionary
Achievements:
· High Honor Roll
· Outstanding Scholastic Achievement
· Excellence Award English II Class
· Cadet Captain in ROTC
Interests/Activities/Skills:
· West Jefferson High School Key Club 2012
· West Jefferson High School ROTC Drill Team 2010-2012
· Poetry Writing
References:
· Upon Request