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Gathering of Old Men

 

            
             The author tells the story from so many different perspectives in order to show how each character reacts to the situation. The different viewpoints of the characters represent the black and white communities of Marshall and The Bayou. Some of the voices were distinctive such as Mapes, Candy, and Lou Dimes. Others were less distinctive. The main message from each of the 17 voices was to stand his or her own ground.
             2. The role of the black women played in this novel, for the most part, was to not fight Luke Will and his gang, but Candy was different. She wanted to stand up to Mapes and the others. The men do not listen to the women who do not want to fight. They"re going to stand up to Mapes, Luke Will, and the others. The black men want to put an end to the white peoples reign over the blacks.
             3. The old men gathered together at a white woman's bidding because Miss Merle had raised her (Candy) in their community. She is looked at differently then the other white women in the surrounding area. Their assumption is that Candy shot Beau. After Candy tells what happens, the old men believe that Beau got what he deserved.
             4. Mat is saying that he is confident in his beliefs, but he is shocked to hear that a kind soul like Candy would kill another being. Only God would give her a sign to do such a thing. .
             5. The old men lingered at the graveyard so everyone could meet there. They also did it to pay their respects to their dead relatives. The cemetery represents a safe haven for all the old men. For some it may give them courage to stick with Candy in showing the white people their faults. .
             6. The right thing for Candy to do is stick up for her black godfather. She got herself into this position by admitting to Mapes that she shot Beau. In Candy's case, the only thing that is her fault is sending for all the old black men. The right thing for Mapes to do is to go to the house and question the old men without any violent outbursts.


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