☛ The Creative Section of April issue (Vol. 6, No. 2) will be out on or before 25 May, 2025.
☛ Colleges/Universities may contact us for publication of their conference/seminar papers at creativeflightjournal@gmail.com

Replenishing Manhood: Reconnoitre the Gender Masculinities in Ernest J. Gaines’s A Gathering of Old Men

 


Replenishing Manhood: Reconnoitre the Gender Masculinities in Ernest J. Gaines’s A Gathering of Old Men

S. A. Thire Karan Rajan 

Ph.D. Research Scholar

Government Arts College (Autonomous),

Salem-7, Tamil Nadu, India

&

Dr. J. Jayakumar

Assistant Professor

Government Arts College (Autonomous),

Salem-7, Tamil Nadu, India

 

Abstract: The complexity of racism is incorporated into African American literature. Racial discrimination and its effects are discussed on every page of this literature. Black Americans are influenced by white Americans, who extort labour under the threat of lynching. The issue of racism is embodied in African American literature. Nearly every Black author has written about this marginalization. Gaines establishes his position by basing his story on black men who aspire to demonstrate their masculinity and challenge the way white people are stereotyped. The purpose of this review is to examine how a bunch of outstanding elderly Black men unite in their resistance to the repressive white society.

Especially the novel’s characters, Mathu and Johnny Paul reveals how masculinity redefines the theme of community, identity and cultural heritage. When the time comes to recognize their dignity, they rise above their previous life of passivity, alter lifelong habits, and defend themselves. They can now assert their manhood regardless of age. The black men in their seventies broaden their desire for freedom from past anxieties and painful experiences; they encourage one another to take a step that will liberate them all beyond their tangibility.

Keywords: Racism, Marginalization, Dignity, Tangibility, Oppressive, Manhood

Ernest Gaines illustrates a similar shift in the thoughts of around 20 persons in his late 1970s novel “A Gathering of Old Men”. In this novel, his quest for a definition and model of true manhood broadens to include a group of individuals, each of whom has “an impetus for Liberation” from their past anxieties, leading them to take a course of action that will set them all free.

“Like most of these white folks, you'll find round here, when they trying to convince you they'll look you dead in the eye, daring you to think otherwise from what they want you to think” (7).

These sentences, which vividly depict the oppression and hardships experienced by the Black population, are a striking representation of the Whites' dominance. Black people should not think of themselves, they are compelled to adopt white people's conceptions. Gaines' reluctance during his formative years serves as the inspiration for the idea of giving the unintelligible a voice opposing the whites. The Novel “A Gathering of Old Men” has a highest order presumptive narrative in stabilizing the masculinity of the Black Louisiana community. Gaines classifies black people's persecution and supports them, as well as the profanity they have endured throughout their lifetimes. The novel depicts the events of a stormy day and serves as an allegory of persuasions that unites older men. An event during the day transports elderly Black men to bygone eras, and their sentimentality changes their perspective. In his works, Ernest J. Gaines portrayed the black population as concealed, manipulated as well as embarrassed. He has an unreservedly different stance, in disparity to other writers. He appeals to the traditions and narratives of his Black community as a fellow of the Louisiana Black community. A Gathering of Old Men, his 5th and most famous book, is a magnificent honouring the fascinating narratives the narrator had collected via discussions with the elder members of his society. The racial conflict, oppression, and destitution of rights are interlocked strikingly in A Gathering of Old Men. Resurrection of manhood and subjugation of the black community was efficaciously illustrated along the characters of the novel.

A Gathering of the Old Men symbolizes an insurrection, of requires for commute. In order to disrupt the Black community's way of life, Gaines utilizes the unique characteristics of the elder generation. The congregation's communion doesn't observe the assortment but emerges their highly expected juncture to show their actual strength, which was slumbering in them over the ages. In this story, a white man is liquidated by a black man in Louisiana, and 18 elderly black men gather to confess to the crime. The old men were prepared for reprisal from the family of deceased, who would threaten the Black community with vigilante retribution. They accumulate arms as a symbol of protest, but ultimately they give the elderly men permission to join in a new transformation.

The novel's elder characters also enjoy breaking stereotypes and consider their age a chance to make innovative progress. Similarly, arbitrary men come together to take risks and recognize the necessity for dignity. Gaines assumes the wise man's determinism to redeem each other prior to their death. Becoming old is inevitably thought to be weak and is hampered by almost all communities world widely. However, the old men of Gaines voluntarily come forward to change their community when they're on the edge of their lives. They confirm externalism: a stronger plus positive rational attitude towards personal as well as collective choices. The Gaines men fight for their independence. Old Man's consortium merges black consciousness with black concurrence. Candy intends to save her care giver from accusations as soon as she discovers Beau's body in front of Mathu's residence. She instructs them to carry their shotguns containing empty shells because she believes old men as useless upon their encounter reprisal. Having one’s weapon represents strength. In contrast to candy’s expectations, old men congregate promptly, Consider their potential to be the final one to exhibit their independence from overpowering whites, as Mat states, “this could be final chance.”

These elderly males have an unwavering desire to subjugate the Whites in order to ass ert their manhood. Years of frustrated suffering have fostered these men's revolutionary zeal. Gaines' men unite the segregated Black people, preparing them to revolt and seize control. Many people define manhood as having physical power, but black men don’t find this to be true. The bonds of class discrimination, segregation and racism damage their manhood. The African American men need to have their own identity. In the patriarchal white society, African American men are socialised towards traditional gender roles and have professed beliefs, according to literary evidence. Black people are thought to be less intellect than white people.

For African Americans, being a man means being denied the obligations that would give them power. Although manhood is perceived as an inherent trait, it truly represents an identity that is formed social interactions. White males and oppressed African American have different ideas about what it means to be a man. The stereotypical idea of black manhood is challenged by Mat, Chimley and an assortment of elderly men in Gaines “A Gathering of Old Men”. They defend themselves after a lifetime of unrelenting acquiescence to the state of disequilibrium. Instead of being cowards, they are prepared to face many consequences. In the gathering event, the formerly distorted masculine power returns among the blacks. In his own country, a Black guy is an outsider or an exile. Unaware of the work the Blacks did for them, the Cajuns have stolen their good land. Among the black men, Mathu is important since he is the only one who has escaped traps and thrived in the same setting that has limited the community's and his men's lives. Mathu is portrayed by Gaines as a man of dignity throughout the entire book.

Mathu, the octogenarian, is portrayed by Gaines as the one who stands up to the whites in every situation. He always tries to keep his community's loftiness intact. Throughout the narrative, Mathu's inclination to substantiation, even Chimley's recollection supports it. Since he has consistently defended their honor and offered resistance to the whites whenever his community has been mistreated, they respect Mathu despite his conflicts with the whites. While the rest of his tribe lacks this dignity, the author permits Mathu to experience it. Mathu expects his men to maintain their decorum in every scenario but is consistently disappointed. He remains isolated as he navigates his society’s suppression and persecution, achieving his dignity.

When he confesses to a crime he has never done, his character is further reinforced. Acceptance increases his height as a man. He continues to inject this manliness into Charlie, as he forces his gun into hands and even demands him to commit murder. He wants the entire community to demonstrate their masculinity and is not merely an audience of submission. Marcus Garvey acknowledges Matas' identity as a necessary feature to complete the liberation he was looking for from the white community. He continues to create "black manliness" as weapons with the elderly look for changes within them. This change is not merely due to social upset but for the complete liberation of black people. In generations, black men endure verbal corn, physical atrocities, in human atrocities and ruthless the rapists from white people. They never expressed resistance to white people. White rule met them, and despite their very hard work, they experienced dignity without honor. Gaines captures the painful lives of black people, and fundament all rights were rejected as a man. The law retreated from the black people, and they were powerless even during their lives. They were considered creatures, not people in most cases. The younger generation is trained to embrace stereotypical racial relationships, and they were accepts oppression without questioning it. They correct the recognition of black people who are dominant as well as considered rulers. In this literature, Gaines shakes up all these stereotypes prejudices and assumptions. A gathering of old men is an outstanding piece beyond the intact black people in action. This trend will gain the dignity of your community, and there will be meetings of your thoughts as well as elderly people. Gaines reflects the changes that have occurred in all members of the community. Their desire to rest, to free themselves from the claws of white people, comes from the right opportunity. The white hatred accumulated in our heads appears at the assembly to resist white supremacy.

The people mind perversion is a stereotype reversal, which are violation of characters such as sweets and a sign of reader reactions. The physical meeting announces rebirth. Essentially small emotions are given meaning to regenerate masculinity from gain. A visit to the cemetery and memory of memories gives us an unknown strength, and a will continue to merge and act. We must recognize the loss of identity. They contribute to a society that benefits future generations. The story beats them, and they can show them the ironic shots, both physically and emotionally. They don't eliminate Mapes' blows or threats and don't succumb to Mapes' requirements. They gaze into Mapes' eyes as they challenge dominance as well as triumph over their submission.

 

 

When Mapes raises doubts, African Americans glance down, displaying their dread and obedience to ignorant power, yet they still gaze at the eyes with fear, guilt, and repentance. Old man also makes a name for himself by looking at the mapes directly in his eyes. Charlie denies confessing a crime toward the book's conclusion. Charlie is also presented as a man who embodies Gaines' traits. He shows up out of the blue and confesses to his crime. Despite being a murderer, the public does not suspect him. Over the years, Beau's provocative behaviour in the fields has resulted in long-term humiliation and murder. He was oppressed and oppressed this year, but never rejected white people, and he stood up against them. But he protects himself when Beau threatens his life. After killing someone, he changes his mind, leaves the scene, and assigns all of the blame to Matu. Gaines returns and confesses to the crime, demonstrating his manliness.

The novel shows that the voice and eyes are stronger than weapons. When Gaines is willing to remember their past, there is the reversal of black mutilation among blacks themselves. People didn't see him as he was approaching them. They showed no signs of fear. They didn't believe he was significant enough to warrant their attention. Due to their few interactions with white people, members of the black community, including Tucker, Coot, and Johnny Paul, are speaking for the first time. They force their manliness and press the map to listen to them without choice. Everyone influences others with their own stories about the incident and collective common voice, sets detention on them and redeems their masculinity. They vented their anger, persuaded each other, and rose to their feet with the history of others.

All of Gaines' works highlight the Black community's responsibility for being overly submissive for an extended period of time. Because the Black community is unable to assert its rights due to internalized fear or low self-esteem, this fault is sinful. As the elder Black males realize (anagnorisis) that they have been silent to the oppression for many years, they see this as an opportunity. They understand that this could be their "last chance" to establish their manhood and identity. The reversal of events, or peripetia, is an outcome of this self-realization. The murder of Beau provided previously oppressed as well as subjugated Blacks the upper hand. It is clear in all Gaines' works that black guilt has been too submissive for so long. This mistake is a sin. Because inner fear and lack of self-esteem in black community do not allow them to say the right thing. After years of oppression, older black men view this as a chance as a perception that anagnoris is dawning, as anagnoris. You realize that this may be your last possibility to prove your identity and masculinity.

Further restraint or humiliation would have been applied to the murder. Instead, blacks acquire their position as they realize that men and white people need to let go of the very embarrassing colonial thinking. This reversal of thinking is at the heart of novel, with Gaines subtly and efficiently portraying change. It allows a Black community to flourish without making the white population feel ashamed. Gaines was criticised by his critics for his soft representation of white people. But the characters, changes and situations are cleverly crafted by Gaines to promote non-violence and peace. He feels that he has not enjoyed for a long time the harmonies that Black people have not enjoyed in fighting for their rights. By organizing communal events along with fostering spiritual harmony, he revitalizes along with regenerates his community. The revival of masculinity is a revelation for men in the black community, and Gaines shows a positive change for readers.

Hence Ernest J. Gaines’s A Gathering of Old Men proposed a nuanced and multifaceted portrayal of masculinity, questioning conventional wisdom of manhood and replenishing our understanding of what it means to be a man. Through the experiences of old men, Gaines subverts traditional masculine ideals, revealing the complexities and vulnerabilities of black masculinity. The narrative demonstrates that the idea of manhood isn’t static or unchanging, instead a dynamic as well as context-dependent construct. Old men’s struggles to assert their dignity, autonomy and humanity in the face of racism and oppression serve as a powerful testament to resilience as well as diversity of black masculinity.

Ultimately, A Gathering of Old Men suggests that replenishing manhood requires a fundamental transformation of our understanding of masculinity, one that acknowledges the complexities, nuances and vulnerabilities of human experience. By reconnoitering the gender masculinities in this narrative, we acquire a more profound comprehension of how literature could be utilized to challenge, subvert as well as replenish traditional notions of manhood.

References

Butler, Neil Robert. Why Survive? Being Old in America.  Harper and Row, 1975.

Carmean, Karen, Ernest J. Gaines: A Critical Companion. Greenwood press, 1998.

Clark, Keith. Re-writing Black Male Subjectivity: The Communal Poetics of Ernest Gaines’s “A Gathering of Old Men”. The John Hopkins University Press.

Doyle, Ellen Mary. “New Visions and Voices: A Gathering of Old Men”. Voices from Quarters. The Fiction of Ernest J. Gaines. Louisiana State University Press, 2002.

Ed. Carroll, Brett. American Masculinities: A Historical Encyclopedia. Sage Publications, 2003.

Gaines J. Ernest. A Gathering of Old Men. Vintage Books, 1992.

Gibson, Thomas Scott. Heavy Things: Materiality and Masculinity in African American Literature. A Dissertation, Greensboro, 2014.

Harper. T. Mary. “From Sons to Fathers: Ernest Gaines’s A Gathering of Old Men.” CLA Journal, Vol.xxx1.no.3, March 1988. pp. 299 - 308.

Lambert, Raphael. “Race and the Tragic Mode in Ernest J. Gaines’s A Gathering of Old Men.” The Southern Literary Journal, Volume XLII, number 2, Spring 2010.