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
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Carmean, Karen, Ernest J. Gaines: A Critical Companion. Greenwood
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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.
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Gathering of Old Men.” CLA Journal,
Vol.xxx1.no.3, March 1988. pp. 299 - 308.
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