 In Part One of Attaway's novel he is employed as a sharecropper on Mr. Johnston's farm in Kentucky.Of the three brothers Big Mat's most notable attributes are his physical size/strength, his rage, and his constant need to be a provider for his family.After the brothers migrate to Pennsylvania Big Mat focuses his energies on doing well at his new job, and scrupulously saves his money so that he might bring his wife Hattie North.