ENC 1102-020 Deeper Than Blood In the novelA Gathering of Old Menby Ernest Gaines, a community is at unrest because the death of a cajun man from a well known racist family. The story takes place on a plantation in Louisiana in the 1970’s. During this time, there is a little racial tension in the United States so blacks and whites get along for the most part.Throughout the novel, Gaines displays many familiar relationships such as maternal/paternal and friendship that emphasize unity and standing up for what's right .Familiar relationships are a heavy influence in the African American communities. Throughout history blacks have used this unity to help one another. The main family tie of the novel is between Candy and Mathu. Mathu is not related to Candy by blood yet he shares a paternal relationship with Candy. She tells her younger cousin, Snookum to round up all the people at Matus house, the location of the death. “I want you to go tell…” (5)this is when Candy puts her trust into a little boy to do an important job. She respects his innocents because she doesn't tell him the matter of what has recently taken place. “Thats none of your business...You’re nothing but a little boy…”(6) she also undermines his right to know what's going on. Mathu is sitting on the front porch when Snookum comes, Mathu tells him “Get out of this yard, abd get out fast, or I’ll come out there and tear your butt up with a switch.”(6). This quote shows the relationship that is shared between Mathu and Snookum. These two have a typical elder to younger person type relationship. Snookum fears Mathu, but in a respectful way. Miss Merele shows an overall motherly relation with everyone in the novel.
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