A Lesson Before Dying Jefferson Quotes

Jefferson refers to his race to explain why he has such a limited capacity. For him, being asked to stand on his own two feet as a man is a lot to ask, even though he is twenty-one years old. This shows us just how much racism can affect whether or not people can imagine a different life.

Jefferson has identified himself with the hog that the defender compared him to during the trial. In the same way that you don't get too attached to a hog you're going to kill and eat, Jefferson won't let himself feel anything because it will hurt to lose himself in the end.

Jefferson often compares his own death to Jesus'. They were both executions, and both happened right around Easter time. He decides to take Jesus' silence, his lack of protest, as a model for his own behavior.