Well, that is how long the old men of Ernest Gaines novel, A Gathering of Old Men , held their emotions in check. They did nothing to raise a hand towards the men that stole their dignity on a daily basis and killed their loved ones one by one. Throughout his novel, Ernest Gaines allows the reader an inside look at the old black men s harsh life and how certain moments towards the end allowed them to swell with pride. He shows how much pain they endured over the many years on the river. Yet never once did they raise a hand or a voice to their oppressors.
Gaines paints a picture of what seems like endless suffering, until now.
Now they have an opportunity to stand up for themselves and for each other. Gaines shows that pride is an important part of a man s life and that if it is missing for too long the man will feel like less of a man. Give a old nigger like me one more chance to do something with his life. He gived me that chance, and I m taking it, I m going to Marshall. The argument between Mat and his wife Ella is a perfect example of how the old men are sick and tired of just sitting back and doing nothing.