The power to influence someone can bring about a change in that person's perspective. In a progressively changing society, it is not uncommon for a person to justify his or her actions on beliefs, which he or she perceives to be righteous, but are misguided by negative influences. These influences can breed negative thoughts, emotions, and motives, all of which affect the social conditions occurring in the past and present. The responsibility for Mayes' death is held by a combination of the following social factors: violence, white supremacy, and Cooper's role-playing as a female victim, all of which result from the power of negative influences. Setting up an explosive atmosphere, Faulkner describes the mounting racial tension between whites and blacks, which eventually drives a vehement white mob to kill Will Mayes, a black man accused of raping an unmarried white woman, Minnie Cooper, who is in her late thirties. As the leader of the mob, John McLendon is responsible for rallying a group which leads to the murdering of Mayes. Driven by a biased hatred towards blacks, McLendon leads a mob of white townspeople to murder Mayes.
             During the 1930s, racial discrimination was deemed acceptable by the vast majority of white Americans and has led to many lynchings and prejudice against blacks. This occurs in a small town of Jefferson, Mississippi, where a number of events take shape on a dry hot September day. The first event begins with a spreading rumor that a black man had raped one of the white townspeople. The mere claim or mentioning of committing such a heinous act against a white woman by a black man infuriates the outraged townspeople, who desire retribution, and ultimately leads to the murder of Mayes. Exhibiting the violent nature of man, McLendon acts on his hatred towards blacks, believing his actions are rightfully justified. Despite the barber's suggestion to "[f]ind out the facts, boys" (4), McLe...