Gathering of Old Men: How Mathu and Charlie change
There are many trails and tribulations that people endure throughout their lives. Some of these experiences instigate change of one's personality in addition to their attitude towards different issues regarding society. Ernest Gaines demonstrates how two different characters in the novel, A Gathering of Old Men, experience changes throughout their lives due to conflicts they encounter. The two characters Mathu and Charlie encounter a change that resulted from a shooting, which occurred during times of extreme racial tension. Though slavery had been abolished during this time, it was a well known fact that whites and blacks held different roles in this society and the blacks were usually at the bottom of the social pole. With respect to racial oppression, Mathu an African-American stood firm held his ground and would even put up a fight when whites tried to degrade him in any manner. There is a point when Joseph Seaberry a.k.a. Rufe thinks to himself, "Mapes liked Mathu. They hunted together. They had drinks together... he knowed that Mathu had never backed down from anybody. Maybe that's why he liked him. To him Mathu was a real man" (84). When Mathu was questioned about committing a murder Mapes said, "I know you did i
Although he would stand up for what he believed in, his loyalty to Candy and her family remained intact because they protected him and would stand up for him and would not allow anyone to walk all over him, he was still being protected by Candy and her family's name. It's evident from this statement that Charlie knew clearly that he was a coward and never stood up for himself all these years. With all the times that Charlie would back down and let white men talk to him like he was a nothing, the amount of pent up anger that Charlie must have been storing inside came to exploding out finally. When he pulled your hands off his arm and went into that room, he was setting both of you free. Throughout the course of this novel these two characters evolved/transformed into two different people with different attitudes toward their position in society. You're the only one around here man enough" (85). He was also a close friend to Candy, another important character in this novel who protected Mathu because he helped raise her when she was younger. In regards to the roles they portrayed in the community, Mathu and Charlie responded the same way in which they would to racial oppression. Charlie on the other hand was a shy and passive man and would only associate with people of his own race. He doesn't need you to protect him anymore, Candy" (184). With Beau being a white man, this quote clearly shows how Charlie succumbed to the racial oppression. He also went on to admit that there comes a day when every man will take a stand and refuse to be treated less than a man. In another incident Lou tells her, "But after tonight there's going to be a big change in your life.
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,
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