Gruesome Gerty is brought to town, causing commotion throughout the community. The chair being is given a life of its own, having qualities known only to be held by humans. White and black people alike seemed to be affected by the introduction of Gerty into town, just in an immensely different way. The black community sees this as yet another time an innocent black man was accused and charged for something he didn't do with no way of defending himself. Though, the white community merely sees Jefferson's execution as a needed cleansing, as normal as throwing out the trash.
The quarter decides not to work on the day of Jefferson's execution, a bit reminiscent of the yearly play being dedicated to him in chapter nineteen. Grant does something unexpected of his character as he tells his students to get down on their knees and pray. After viewing a small yellow butterfly land on the blades of grass rather than the sweet smell of flowers he realizes that Jefferson was dead. As Paul tells him of the execution, he emphasizes that he was a witness, saying that it would be an honor to come back and tell the community of Jefferson's bravery. Jefferson had accepted his death as a man, not a pig.
