Another huge historical impact with dehumanization is shown profoundly in A Lesson Before Dying. Ernest Gaines does a great job of showing the dehumanization in the 1940s. A young man named Jefferson, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, is on trial for the robbery and murder of a gas station clerk. While Jefferson's lawyer is supposed to defend him, he instead dismisses him as a stupid pig who couldn't possibly have the brains to carry out such a plan. He then goes on to say "oh, sorry, sorry, I definitely didn't mean to insult your intelligence by saying 'dude', could you please forgive me for making such a mistake?" He dehumanizes Jefferson by saying he is no longer a man but now a pig. Dehumanization is a very serious issue and is shown profoundly in these two readings Maus I, Maus II and A Lesson Before Dying. The authors do a great job of using this theme in their writing and keeping the reader's interest making them unable to put the book down. These two writings have a great impact on the characters both similarly and differently. Some characters can handle it and let it make them stronger where others can't bear to live