A white deputy sheriff at the jail where Jefferson is held, and the only guard who treats Jefferson and Grant with respect. Paul shows many signs that he wants Grant to succeed in inspiring Jefferson to be brave. He is present when Jefferson is executed at the end of the novel, and he tells Grant that Jefferson was the bravest man in the room. He also shakes Grant hand. (In line with the Christian symbolism of the book, Paul’s name may allude to St. Paul, the loyal servant of Jesus Christ who spread the message of Christianity after Christ’s death. Paul, too, spreads the word of Jefferson’s bravery in death at the end of the novel.)
Deputy Paul Bonin Quotes in A Lesson Before Dying
The A Lesson Before Dying quotes below are all either spoken by Deputy Paul Bonin or refer to Deputy Paul Bonin. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Note: all page and citation info for the quotes below refers to the Vintage edition of A Lesson Before Dying published in 1994.
Chapter 30
Quotes
Jefferson continued to look at Paul, a long, deep look, and the deputy felt that there was something else he wanted to say. Murphy and the other deputy were still waiting. “Well,” Paul said, and started to walk away. “Paul?” Jefferson said quietly. And his eyes were speaking, even more than his mouth. The deputy looked back at him. Murphy and Claude did too. “You go’n be there, Paul?” Jefferson asked, his eyes asked. Paul nodded. “Yes, Jefferson. I’ll be there.”
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Chapter 31
Quotes
“I don’t know what you’re going to say when you go back in there. But tell them he was the bravest man in that room today. I’m a witness, Grant Wiggins. Tell them so.”
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Deputy Paul Bonin Character Timeline in A Lesson Before Dying
The timeline below shows where the character Deputy Paul Bonin appears in A Lesson Before Dying. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 9
...bathrooms downstairs, which are disgusting; whites use the cleaner indoor bathrooms. A young deputy named Paul tells Emma that Jefferson has been very quiet lately. The other deputy goes through the...
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Paul leads Emma and Grant to Jefferson’s cell. As they walk there, the other prisoners ask...
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Paul returns and opens the cell door. Emma tells Jefferson that they’ll be back soon. She...
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Chapter 11
...the jailhouse, where Sheriff Guidry sits behind a desk. When Guidry sees Grant, he calls Paul, and Paul goes through the usual process of searching Grant. As this goes on, Guidry...
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Paul walks Grant to Jefferson’s jail cell; along the walk, Grant gives out small change to...
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After an hour elapses, Paul lets Grant out of the cell. Grant asks Jefferson if there’s anything he should tell...
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Chapter 17
On Friday, Grant goes through the usual search process before he enters Jefferson’s cell. As Paul walks him past the prisoners, Grant asks him how Jefferson is doing; Paul replies that...
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Paul leaves Grant with Jefferson. Grant offers Jefferson food, but Jefferson says he isn’t hungry; Grant...
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Paul leads Grant out of the jail cell. In the front office, Grant notices the sheriff...
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Chapter 18
...Emma, and Lou next see Jefferson, they’re shown into the dayroom of the jail. Then, Paul goes to get Jefferson from his cell. He marches Jefferson into the dayroom, wearing shackles...
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Chapter 20
...before or after Easter; Lent was not a possibility. Afterwards, Grant notes, he learned from Paul that the governor originally wanted the execution to occur before Ash Wednesday, but there was...
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Chapter 22
Grant has arrived at the jailhouse. Paul searches him, though they both know there is no reason for it. As Paul walks...
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...gone well, Grant stands in the cell and waits for the hour to elapse. When Paul comes to get him, he tells him that the visit was better than ever. Paul...
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Grant drives back to the jailhouse, where he finds Paul and the sheriff. He tells the sheriff that he has a radio to give to...
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Chapter 23
...Miss Emma, and Reverend Ambrose go to the jailhouse to visit Jefferson. At the jailhouse, Paul searches all three visitors and then lets them into the dayroom. When Paul goes to...
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Paul informs Miss Emma that Jefferson refuses to go to the dayroom without his radio; Emma,...
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...so happy with this sign of interest that he grins and shakes Jefferson’s hand. When Paul asks Grant if everything is okay, he says that it is.
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Chapter 24
At the jailhouse, Paul isn’t present; instead, the chief deputy escorts them to the dayroom without saying anything. Grant...
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Chapter 29
...get Jefferson anything, but Jefferson doesn’t feel that Clark is looking out for him. Only Paul treats Jefferson like a human being, Jefferson concludes.
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...writes that the sky looks very blue, and that he’ll pass his diary along to Paul before he’s taken to the electric chair.
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Chapter 30
Paul stands in the sheriff’s office in the jailhouse discussing the execution with Sheriff Guidry and...
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Paul carries a safety razor and pair of scissors to Murphy’s cell and tells him that...
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...works, Jefferson sits on his bed, as if in a trance. When Murphy is finished, Paul motions for Claude and Murphy to leave the cell. As Paul locks the cell door,...
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Chapter 31
...to the church. When he is almost back, a car drives by. The driver is Paul. Paul emerges from the car and asks to speak to Grant. Grant quickly goes into...
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Paul tells Grant that Grant is an excellent teacher, but Grant denies this—one must believe to...
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Paul offers Grant his friendship. He shakes hands with Grant and tells him to tell his...
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