Dying With Dignity
Gavin Proeh
English 1

Ordinary people can change someone’s life. People who stand up for what is right and help others find dignity in their lives can be considered heroes. One does not need to win the Nobel Prize or be Superman to be considered heroic. In some cases, helping individuals accomplish tasks others find too difficult to tackle can be considered heroic. In the novel, A Lesson Before Dying, Earnest Gaines demonstrates that Paul Bonin, Grant Wiggins, and Jefferson define heroism by giving dignity to all individuals and giving respect to a disrespected community.

Heroes disregard the racist codes of society by treating all people as equals. In the novel, Paul, a white man who works at the jail, recognizes the injustices in society, and insists on treating all people equally with kindness. Grant comes to the jail frequently to visit Jefferson and help him die with dignity. Paul forms a friendship with this young black teacher and their bond and desire to help Jefferson grows stronger and stronger. This friendship goes against segregation, and a partnership is formed that is based on trust and loyalty. Paul understands people and recognizes Grant’s pain when Grant visits a defeated Jefferson. A few days after the execution, Paul greats Grant with Jefferson’s notebook, “ If I could ever be of any help, I would like you to call on me. I mean that with all my heart”(255). Paul shows bravery by reaching across the racial barrier. He thinks of each man’s humanity and what is inside, not their color. By forming a friendship with Grant and caring deeply about a prisoner on death row, Paul shows heroism simply by caring about people others considered insignificant.

A man accepts responsibility for his own life and then he can help another. Individuals must also understand that they cannot allow others to take away their hope or define them in a negative way. Grant Wiggins transforms from a cynical man to an individual who accepts responsibility. Before he became involved with Jefferson, Grant wanted to run away from society. Overtime, Grant realizes that Jefferson can become a hero to the black community. He helps Jefferson go against the white man’s view of him as a “hog” and assists him in dying with dignity. Grant understands that he is not heroic, but he recognizes that Jefferson can give hope to the black community by being a man not a “boy.” He begs Jefferson “ to show them the difference between what you think you are and what you can be”(194). Because of Jefferson Grant becomes a man. He takes responsibility to protect Jefferson and through Jefferson, he gives hope to the black community. Before his visits to the jail Grant was a cynical man removed from the community. By the time Jefferson dies he is compassionate, humble, and sympathetic to all people. Both of these young men reveal heroism by accepting responsibility for themselves and showing a positive force to the white community.

Individuals who represent a group have a responsibility to be role models. While Jefferson sits in jail he writes in a diary, thinks about the world around him, and his role in it. The writing empowers him. His friendship with Grant gives him a sense of self worth and makes him feel like he is someone. Understanding that he is dying as man for the community makes him unafraid to face death. In one of his final journal entry’s he writes, “ good-bye mr wigin tell them im strong tell them im a man”(234). The white community killed an innocent black man, but they could not oppress his spirit. He becomes a man before his death to be a symbol of hope for the black community. Although his writing is filled with errors and a shows his lack of education one understands that he is writing from his heart. Through his heroic actions and his transformation he brings respect to himself and his disrespected community.

Individuals show heroism when they stand up against society and insist on being treated with dignity and respect. At the start of the novel Jefferson is immature and does not value his life. He writes in his journal, “ if I aint nothing but a hog how come they don’t just knock me in the head like a hog? Stab me like a hog?”(220). Because Jefferson is uneducated he accepted a place in society that made him feel less human and unimportant. He felt powerless and needed to regain his humanity before others could treat him with respect. When Grant Wiggins entered his life, the teacher helped him recognize his own self worth. Overtime Jefferson came to trust Grant and considered him a friend. He demonstrated this trust by allowing Grant to bring him a radio and listening to Grant about eating his aunt’s food. Grant’s friendship changes his life and helps him see his dignity.
Grant, Jefferson, and Paul are heroes because they all exhibit noble qualities. Qualities like being humble, compassionate, and wanting to change the lives of those around them. By the end of the book all three men transform into heroes. Jefferson transforms into a compassionate and confident human being who faces death with dignity. Paul shows noble qualities by being friends with a black man and caring deeply about a prisoner. He also shows empathy to the black community. Ignoring the model that has been set by the sheriff. Grant shows humility and compassion by weeping in front of his classroom after Jefferson’s death. Grant, Jefferson, and Paul lead the way others should act in society. His heroism is in caring about and respecting the people in the community, and not trying to abandon it like in the beginning.