Analysis on Dry September

        As we start break down events that occurred in the past, we start to see things such as racism being a reoccurring pattern. Always depicting a superior archetypical group, being the one taking advantage of another lesser group. This is typically seen as the white people oppressing the blacks. In the story called Dry September written by William Faulkner; we can use this story to see how racism and its counter parts support it. In total, there are going to be three things discussed racism, passion, violence, and how they all tie into each other.

The first thing being touched upon is racism. Racism is conveyed first through a thought, which expresses a superiority complex. In the story a rumor begins to go around that a girl named Minnie Cooper was raped by a black male. The only black male that is then unjustifiably accused, is a man called Will Mayes. The barber Hawkshaw is the only one trying to logically reason with the rest of the men, to prove that Will Mayes did not commit the terrible act. On the other hand McLendon wants to continue the rant on hunting down Will Mayes to punish him for his so called crimes; since Will Mayes is black and he won’t condone his behavior. The people already think lesser of the accused man since they know he’s black and that is accepted.  

The thing they are now missing, is the passion to hunt down the black man. According to the text “Maybe you know who did it, then. Maybe you already got him out of town, you damn niggerlover.” This quotation exemplifies how when Hawkshaw tries to defend Will Mayes, he is faced with resistance. It is implied that Hawkshaw is a niggerlover which has a bad connotation to it, and also can discredit him from his opinions. McLendon does this because he wants people to join his cause, even though they are not thinking rationally under the influence of the weather. This is soon going to lead the men into going after Will Mayes. Even though McLendon might think he rape didn’t happen, he still encourages violent actions. According to the text   “McLendon whirled on the third speaker.”Happen? What the hell difference does it make? Are you going to let the black sons get away with it until one really does it?"” This shows us how even if Will Mayes didn’t commit thew act, McLendon still wants to make an example of him.  Now that the ability to rationalize is out the door is when the action finally takes place.