At the center of almost every social interaction, conversation, and even inner thought of the characters in A Lesson Before Dying lies the question of race. In pre-Civil Rights Louisiana, skin color affects the way you treat each other and the way you are treated. The history of slavery still haunts everything, and not in a friendly Casper-like way. It also influences the bonds people form and who they feel like they can trust.
This is the #1, Big Deal, Most Important theme of this novel, by a long shot.
Questions About Race
- How does race figure into Jefferson's fate? If he were white, would things be different? How?
- Does the novel offer any hope for improvement of race relations in Louisiana? Why or why not?
- How does history show up in the way the characters experience race?
Chew on This
The characters in A Lesson Before Dying are absolutely limited in their life possibilities by their race.
A Lesson Before Dying shows how race is an important factor in life, but also shows how characters should aspire to not think of race as important.