Religion and Heaven In Ernest J. Gaines’s novel, A Lesson Before Dying, we learn about man, his suffrage, and his development. This novel is a story about man’s soul and dignity. It is a story about a young mans soar to the peak of humanity and heroism. It is a novel of improvement and development. Jefferson, who has been sentenced to death for a crime he has not committed—once referred by his attorney a hog—learns how to become a man and gets off of his four legs and stands! This is a story of a kid’s struggle and development into manhood. It is about a kid who become