In Chapter 1, Jefferson's defense attorney asks the jury to spare -Jefferson's life by implying it would be cruel to kill a man no more intelligent or moral than a hog. He voices the ugly belief, held by many whites, that blacks are animals. WHO calls Jefferson a hog in A Lesson Before Dying? Frustration Stage. When Grant finally does meet up with Jefferson on his own he sees …
The defense attorney Character Analysis. The defense attorney. The white attorney who is charged with the task of defending Jefferson from execution for the crime of killing Alcee Gropé. The attorney paints a picture of Jefferson that Grant, Emma, and Reverend Ambrose spend the remainder of the novel refuting: he calls Jefferson an animal and a “hog,” and tries to convince …
The description of name-calling fits perfectly with the story line. Jefferson's defense attorney calls him a hog to win the argument/court case. His attorney wants to "induce rejection" and condemn him in hopes that the jury will believe that Jefferson is not worth the effort of execution.
Dec 10, 2011 · See answer (1) Best Answer. Copy. He is called a "Hog" because of his lack of intelligence. Wiki User. ∙ 2011-12-10 20:55:21. This answer is: 👍Helpful👎Not Helpful. 0.
Lesson Summary Ernest J. Gaines' A Lesson Before Dying uses various symbols to reinforce the novel's important themes. Food, a painting of The Last Supper, and the radio symbolize community and connection. The hog symbolizes animality, evoking how African-Americans are regarded as filthy animals.
During the second third of the novel Jefferson starts to express his feeling about what will happen. Jefferson expresses his anger of being called a “hog” by saying he is and acting like one. He says “ Im an old hog. Just an old hog they fattening up to kill for Christmas”(83).
Why, I would just as soon put a hog in the electric chair as this. In Chapter 1, Jefferson's defense attorney asks the jury to spare -Jefferson's life by implying it would be cruel to kill a man no more intelligent or moral than a hog. He voices the ugly belief, held by many whites, that blacks are animals.
When his lawyer calls him a "hog," Jefferson takes the insult to heart and begins to consider himself powerless in the white-dominated society. He becomes sullen and withdrawn, accepting a living death and therefore becoming a dark symbol of his oppressed people.
Grief-stricken, Miss Emma thinks about how Jefferson's attorney compared Jefferson to a hog. She tells Grant that she does not want Jefferson to die a hog and that she wants Grant to accompany her to the prison and teach Jefferson to die with dignity.
Further, although Grant and Jefferson are not blood relatives, they are connected through their common experiences as black males. Although physically free, Grant lives in a mental prison of his own making created by his hatred of whites, his arrogance, and his detachment from the black community.
Miss Emma Glen is Jefferson's godmother and the best friend of Tante Lou, Grant's aunt. Grant refers to Miss Emma as 'nannan. ' She is introduced in the beginning of the novel when she encourages Grant to visit Jefferson in prison.
The attorney paints a picture of Jefferson that Grant, Emma, and Reverend Ambrose spend the remainder of the novel refuting: he calls Jefferson an animal and a “hog,” and tries to convince the jury to spare his life on the grounds that it's immoral to kill a mere animal.
The portable electric chair ("Gruesome Gerty") is brought to town and townspeople react to its presence. Final preparations are made for Jefferson's execution.
He wants to let Jefferson know that no matter how bad we are, we still owe something to someone - and Jefferson owes something to Miss Emma.
Several days later, Grant overhears Tante Lou and Miss Eloise discussing Miss Emma's last visit with Jefferson and learns that Miss Emma slapped Jefferson for repeating his degrading act of imitating a hog.
yellowVivian is not as dark-skinned as Grant and her first husband (at one point, Jefferson calls her "yellow"). And the community she is from takes that to mean that they are better than darker people.