A Lesson before Dying Themes

This Study Guide consists of approximately 77 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of A Lesson before Dying.

A Lesson before Dying Themes

This Study Guide consists of approximately 77 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of A Lesson before Dying.
This section contains 923 words
(approx. 3 pages at 400 words per page)
Buy the A Lesson before Dying Study Guide

Justice and Injustice

From the beginning until the very end of A Lesson Before Dying a sense of injustice prevails. While this theme derives from the larger theme of racism, Gaines uses specific incidents to demonstrate how underlying racist beliefs can result in miscarriage of justice. Jefferson innocently accepts a ride with two conniving young men who are planning to take advantage of a white businessman. When the three other men die in the resulting struggle, Jefferson, who is slightly retarded, does not really understand what has happened or even remember how he got there. Unfairly accused by two white men who come into the store and find Jefferson leaving with money and whiskey in his pockets, Jefferson is later tried and convicted for the crime and sentenced to die in the electric chair. The injustice continues after Jefferson is jailed, and it extends to the people he loves...

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This section contains 923 words
(approx. 3 pages at 400 words per page)
Buy the A Lesson before Dying Study Guide
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A Lesson before Dying from Gale. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.