“A Lesson before Dying” is a heartwarming, exciting novel that was written by Ernest J. Gaines. There are three main characters from this novel named Jefferson, Grant Wiggins, and Paul who knew one of the most important lessons there is before dying. That important lesson was for each of us who were made by Gods image to be great, and to help someone along the way. An Example of this important lesson is Grant Wiggins. He did n want to at first, but he attempted to be a man and not a Hog as the public defender had called him during the trial. Jefferson’s godmother wants Grant to visit Jefferson and make him know that he’s not a hog, that he’s a man. Grant accepts the challenge firstly, to prove the white men that were betting against him wrong and show them that Jefferson can and will transform from a hog in their eyes, to a man for the sake of black people in the south. But, He also accepts he challenge in order for Jefferson to become somebody in the future would look up to because he is the only person who has the power now to stand up towards the white citizens of the southern states. Grant Wiggins also tells Jefferson “A hero is someone who does something for other people. He does something that other men don’t and can’t do. He is different from other men. He is above other men. No matter who those other men are, the hero, no matter who he is, is above them”. During this section of the novel Grant wants Jefferson to show the white folk the difference between what he thinks he is and what he can become and Grant wants Jefferson to understand that. Grant is continuously attempting to not only prove to Jefferson that he is a man himself, but he is also a man to world and everybody else around him,