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In the novel A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines, a young black male named Jefferson is on death row for a crime, which he did not commit. While in jail, another African American teacher Grant Wiggins, tries to teach Jefferson to die with dignity. Instances where it is illustrated that Jefferson does not have dignity is when the lawyer calls him a hog, when the lawyer calls Jefferson a fool, and when the lawyer calls him stupid. One example of when Jefferson is said to have no dignity is when the lawyer says, “ What justice would there be to take this life? Justice, gentleman? Why I would just as soon put a hog in the electric chair as this?” (Gains 8). The lawyer reduces the status of Jefferson to that of an animal. This shatte