Masculinity In Ernest J. Gains A Gathering Of Old Men

In A Gathering of Old Men by Ernest J. Gains, the titular men struggle with their masculinity and pride, afraid to take a stand against white authority. That is, until today. Because today is different. With the new day the old men desire to do something different and brave while redefining black masculinity and pride, both in themselves and each other. This theme is found throughout the novel and is a universal experience, involving characters of all circumstance and race, height and personal characteristics. Two episodes found in A Gathering of Old Men demonstrating this theme will be explored. The first scenario involves Charlie, who has been a boy for fifty years, and, a few hours before death, transforms into a man. In the second

They were rooted in their routines and traditions and on the day Beau Boutan was shot and the old men were called to Mathu’s house (where the murder took place), it would have been much easier for the old men to “go home, lock y’all [the old men’s] doors, and crawl under the bed like y’all [the old men] used to.” (Gains 28). But the old man proclaimed he “ain’t got too much strength left to go crawling under that bed” (Gains 29) the other old man agreed and they both went to support Mathu. Whether five or fifty-two, each old man took a stand for the future. Each of them took a stand for a better tomorrow for their families. Dawn and “her red-rose fingers” (Homer 93) brought bravery and courage, and helped the emotions buried deep in the hearts of the men to bloom and shine. Today was a new day that left past fears and concerns behind and instilled bravery and courage in the men. The concern that there might not be a tomorrow encouraged the men to be brave

As a previously “mean, bitter old man” (Gains 182), angry because of the societal restraints placed on him due to his race, he desired a new day. A day that would allow him to recognize, as an old man, what really matters in his life, before it was too late. Furthermore, the dawning of a new day allowed Mathu to recognize he had “been changed. Not by that white man’s God...I been changed by y’all.” (Gains 182). Today allowed Mathu to capitalize on what he truly appreciated in his life. For Mathu, this was the pride he felt in his companions, men he had worked with and known for