A Gathering Of Old Men Analysis

The story unfolds soon after the introduction of characters in a humble southern setting. Not long after is it obvious that the characters are segregated blacks with white masters; in a time where shadows of slavery loomed all about the area. The author uses vernacular to bring across the messages of black elderly characters. Gaines uses humor and brings out each their personality in the book titled” A gathering of old men”. The men were further distinguished into different classes “mullato, negroes” that determined their social status based on the shade of their color. For a long time, in Louisiana, peace prevailed as result of submission to the white supremacy until disaster stroke. A white man Mr. Beau was found lying dead in a black man’s back yard. It was a mystery, unheard of since centuries, and now the search for the murderer begun. Black men who used to work on farms where commanded by candy “a white lady” to come to the murder scene immediately. As the story progresses, the author stages the whole …show more content…
Allows displaying the personality of the characters but too many characters each assigned to a given chapter. It get confusing initially as the reader tries to figure out the narrator of the chapter. The vernacular language used in the book implies that Earnest Gaines had a targeted audience, Americans unlike foreigners, the slang language “i kilt him” (pg. 80, Gaines) can lead to misinterpretation of the text. In addition events surrounding the climax were unrealistic, one for certain time sheriff Mapes, was in control of the whole situation, Charlie admitting to murder. They believe him, anyway without firm evidence. Everyone pleaded guilty. What makes the reader believe this particular character to having been the actual murderer? After wards, everything escalated out of hand, leading him to quit, more people end up being dead; the resolution was