A Gathering of Old Men by Earnest J. Gaines is a great novel about race relations in the south. The novel begins with a child narrator who relates the report that there has been a shooting on a Louisiana plantation, and a white, Cajun farmer Beau Boutan, is dead. He has been killed in the yard of an old black worker, Mathu. Because of the traditional conflict between Cajuns and blacks in South Louisiana, the tension in the situation and the fear of the black people is immediately felt in the novel. I would definitely recommend this book to someone else. Gaines uses the fifteen narrators to deal with the changing relationship between the Cajuns and the blacks in Louisiana. As each narrator picks up the story, we see the tension between the past and the present, the conflict between the whites and the blacks. This allows Gaines to set up the unfolding of the depths of character and the courage of the men. Mapes, the white sheriff who traditionally dealt with the black people by the use of intimidation and force, finds himself in a frustrating situation of having to deal with a group of black men, each carrying a shotgun and claiming that he shot Beau Boutan. In addition, Candy Marshall, the young white woman whose family owns the plantation, claims that she did it. As each person tells the story, he takes the blame and, with it the glory. Gaines technique allows the characters to reveal themselves and their relations with others. We hear the story through the voices of the old black men, a black woman, a child, and the white narrators. We not only see the conflicts of the blacks, but also the conflicts of the Cajuns as well. It is very interesting the Gaines didn’t give the three main characters a voice. The reason that I think that he did it this way is because Mathu knows what really happened. He is the only one who knows who killed Beau Boutan.
...es such as Georgia to deny blacks their civil rights as well as federal protection. Wexler reveals the shameful standards of the investigation which was simply a cover up from beginning to end. There is also some feeling with regards to the racism and hatred of the white townspeople who almost thought that the blacks actually deserved their terrible fate.
A predominantly black town in Florida by the name of Rosewood was abandoned in 1923 due to the city being left in devastating ruins after a horrendous bloodshed massacre. The massacre was initiated by accusations of a black man by the name of Jesse Hunter assaulting a white female by the name of Fanny Taylor. But their troubles didn’t begin there this was long awaiting battle due to prior false information that often ended with a black person being lynched.The incident regarding Jesse Hunter and Fanny Taylor set havoc to the little town of Rosewood.In spite of the rumors that the two were romantically involved or that at least the woman was using the incident to cover up her premarital affairs. Meanwhile, members of the Ku Klux Klan rallied in nearby towns and gathered people to go and rise terror on Rosewood. The one person who knew the truth was a man named Sam Cartier. Who was lynched by the Ku Klux Klan as a warning to whoever was helping Jesse. It was soon rumored that Jesse’s friend Aaron’s cousin Sylvester was hiding him at his house. The KKK demanded
The Old English epic poem Beowulf poses something for an enigma for scholars. The poet was surely a Christian, but the poem depicts a pagan society, so what sort of religion is being expressed. Most recent scholars have argued for a Christian reading, but others still hold out for a pagan one. Some have suggested Christian-pagan syncretism. Pagan beliefs involve sacrifices to the old stone Gods, making heathen vows, hoping for Hell’s support, the devil’s guidance in driving their affliction off. This was their way and the Heathen’s only hope.Some suggest Christian-pagan syncretism. Anglo-Saxon epic heroes are willing to put their own lives in danger for the greater good. Beowulf highlights the code’s points of tension by relating circumstances
Young black boy, Jefferson, was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was in a bar with two friends when they murdered the white bartender. Jefferson was unfairly convicted of murder and sentenced to the electric chair by a white judge and jury. His defense lawyer, in an attempt to avoid the death sentence, labeled him a "hog”. It was this label that Jefferson's godmother wants disproved. She enlisted the help of a school teacher, Grant Wiggins, who at first wasn’t too kind for the idea of helping a crook. Grant agrees to talk with Jefferson only out of a sense of duty. Due to all the humiliation at the hands of the white sheriff, Jefferson's lack of cooperation, and his own sense of unsure faith, Grant forges a bond with Jefferson that leads to wisdom and courage for both. At first, Jefferson saw himself as a hog, and nothing but a hog.
Communion begins with the presentation of the bread and the wine. The bread represents the body of Jesus, broken and put on a cross to forgive us for our sins. The wine represents the blood of Jesus, spilt while he was on the cross to once again forgive us of our sins on this Earth. The priest sets the bread on the table along with an empty, gold-colored chalice. The priest then washes his hands by pouring water from a small clay pitcher over his hands in to a small clay bowl. The pitcher and bowl are held by two altar servers. Altar servers are aids to the priest. The servers will hold the prayer book up to the priest while he prays ...
The first few pages of the book was filled with imagery, the author gave vivid descriptions of Alabama. I really liked the first person narration because it gave a lot of details and emotions as the author experienced them. Rick Bragg the author and protagonist of this novel, starts the story with his feelings towards his father who is dying. These passages provided background information and history about his father. A theme that I noticed a lot in this book was sacrifice, Margaret Bragg, a mother of three, abandoned by her husband tried to raise the kids. I admired Margaret Bragg because she was selfless and caring. Margaret Bragg waited till the boys finished their meals to eat the leftovers, went without a new pair of shoes or clothes so
...tle, and the white magnolias. The South is described very different from the North. The North is painted in shades of grey and white. The urban city is depicted as cold and inhospitable. This proves to be true for the narrator. In the South, he had a group of people who were treated the same way but as soon as he moved up North he was left to fend for himself. Even the people of color did not have his back.
Anglo-Saxon went from a belief-system based on paganism to one based on Christianity. Beowulf is a heroic folktale that illustrates the fight between the good, Beowulf, against the force of evil, Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. Beowulf is able to defeat every last one of these monsters. Beowulf is a representative of Christianity. While, the monsters are representative of the elements of paganism. This shows that Christianity is the rightful, true path of religious belief since it overpowers paganism. This is shown in the story of Beowulf, “Grendel…would have killed more, had not mindful God and one man’s daring prevented that doom. Past and present, God’s will prevails” (71). This shows that the good, Christianity, will overcomes the evils of paganism. By using these elements of religion in this way, Beowulf is being used as a method of education. It is teaching the public that Christianity is the proper system of beliefs. As J. R.R Tolkien analyses, in “Beowulf: The Monsters and the
The story opens with Grant recalling the trial and events leading up to it. Jefferson was on his way to a bar when he was offered a ride by two young black men. The trio went to hold up a liquor store to get drinks, but didn't have enough to pay. The two men demand to get drinks on credit and a shootout ensued, leaving Jefferson panicked in the aftermath. He grabs the money behind the counter, takes a drink and begins to run when two white men walk into the store. Of course, a young black man going to trial after the Civil War until the end of Jim Crow is bound to be unfairly and unjustly sentenced. Black men, even today are sometimes treated as guilty until proven otherwise. The prosecution spins the story, saying the three men went to the store with the intent to rob and murder Alcee Grope, the store owner. Jefferson was also accused of taking money and celebra...
Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Franz Kafka’s “Metamorphosis” contain similarities and differences. They both have the common theme of deterioration of the main protagonist’s life and mind, as well as the theme of ostracism of outcasts in society. They also both deal with the main character gaining freedom through the demise of their previous lives. Both authors use symbolism to show the desires of the characters. Something that would set these two stories apart would be the nature of their transformation, while the narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper” had more of a pre- determined nature (meaning she was diagnoses) Gregor’s in “Metamorphosis” was more obscure and random. Also, these two characters seem to have opposite
The story starts off by Jefferson being accused of a crime that he did not commit, he was forced into being with the criminals and was the only person in the store who was not shot and killed. Jefferson, being an African American, was discriminated against by the jury and was sent to jail. “The judge commended the twelve white men for reaching a quick and just verdict”(Gaines 8). This is one of the first events to take place in the novel revealing quickly that the story is taking place in a time of racism. Jefferson was sentenced to death by electrocution, not only causing depression in Jefferson and his family, but also causing many internal conflicts in Jefferson and Grant.
The main role of flashbacks is to show the hardships and discrimination the African-Americans faced in that time. We are shown these flashbacks when Mapes the Sherriff questions the old men who are all claiming to have kill … ‘The way they beat him. They beat him till they beat him crazy…” (Gaines 80). Gaines introduced this flashback to show the brutality that blacks endured during the years following slavery. Not even a child was spared. Another flashback was by Johnny Paul, who remembered back to a time when they all lived together as a community until Beau Boutan and his tractor came and plowed it all up. Johnny Paul was referring to this time when he confused Mapes by saying “But you still don’t see. Yes sir, what you see is the weeds, but you don’t see what we don’t see.”(Gaines 89). Johnny Paul was referring to how the weeds and dilapidated houses replaced what was once a place of happiness, and brotherhood among the black families who lived there. Gaines uses this flashback to show what was taken from the African-Americans in the novel. It is the reason they must stand up for themselves. Another of the old men, Tucker goes into a flashback and remembers a time when his brother Silas and two mules, beat a white man and a tractor in a race. “…and because he didn’t lose like a nigger is supposed to lose, they beat him” (Gaines 97). This flashback portrays the obvious distinction between whites and blacks
Beowulf was written in the time when the society was in the process of converting from Paganism to Christianity. In this epic poem, these two religions come through the actions of its characters. The acceptance of feuds and the courage of war are just a few examples of the Pagan tradition, while the Christian mortalities refrain from the two.
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee highlights the concept of victors and victims within a prejudiced community, displayed by the author through various aspects. These include characterization, setting, and literary devices. They aid in presenting the prejudice that takes place within the fictional town of Maycomb, revealing it to be based on social status. These elements assist the reader to construct a detailed picture of the town of Maycomb, and the atrocious deeds committed within.
Only in the Eucharist can both the individual and social temple be united and equally nourished. Personal faith and the Eucharist come together from a common origin in Christ. In joining individuals to Christ’s catholic nature, the Eucharist conveys to the world the full value of ritual