Question

Why does one of the boys wear a black handkerchief across his face?

Answer 1

In literature, a boy wearing a black handkerchief across his face typically signifies a hidden identity or a disguise, often leading to a reveal that challenges societal assumptions or personal perception.

Step-by-step explanation:

The boy wears a black handkerchief across his face as a part of the characterization in the narrative, often used to signify a disguise or a hidden identity. In one of the references provided, the act of revealing the character's face beneath the mask or cloth parallels an unveiling of true nature or perhaps a society's assumptions based on outward appearances.

For instance, within the excerpt where Venters removes the rider's wide sombrero and black cloth mask, it leads to the discovery of a youthful face, signifying the disparity between the character’s perceived identity and their actual one. This contrast can address themes such as deception, identity, societal roles or expectations.

The representation of characters wearing masks or having their faces covered in literature often invites the reader to look beyond the surface level and question societal norms, power structures, and individual identity.

Answer 2

There are a lot of reasons that one would wear a black handkerchief across there face. One of the most common of these reasons is to conceal or hide your identity. It is likely that the boy you speak of was wearing a handkerchief across its face to conceal his identity.