“A Lesson Before Dying” by Ernest J. Gaines takes place in the South, during the time of the Civil War as blacks started to gain there freedom. A black man by the name of Jefferson happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and was convicted of murdering a white bar tender. In front of the jury he was made to look like a fool by his own attorney. His attorney trying …showed first 75 words of 874 total…

…showed last 75 words of 874 total…minutes it will be 12:00p.m., I will ask you to get down on your knees and remain on your knees until I ask you to get up.”(250) Shown that his attuide toward Jefferson turned toward compassion for his time of death. Wiggins and Jefferson both taught each other a lesson, Jefferson is a man and Wiggins could be a hero even doing the simplest task. Even thought Jefferson still dyed, he died a man.