There is a saying that most people have likely heard originating in Ancient Rome by poet Vergil stating “Omnia Vincit Amor,” A.K.A- Love Conquers All. While it is a broad statement to say that love overcomes every obstacle, it can be seen time and time again in different stories how the power of love will conquer. In movies, it is seen in The Princess Bride when Wesley and Buttercup find each other again and fight for their love, in plays it is apparent in Hamilton as Eliza accepts Hamiltons mistakes and they come together after the loss of their son, and in the short story “The Gilded Six-Bits” by Zora Neale Hurston, this theme continues. Written in 1933, the story follows the relationship between Joe and his wife, Missie May, and the rough …show more content…
The prominent rift between the couple throughout the story is the desire for wealth and a higher class, which is even further exemplified by the race-specific undertones presented. The effects of race and class on Joe and Missie’s relationship proves itself through the influence on the character's decisions, while also affecting the way they are treated and viewed, and how once they are able to focus less on these social constructs they are able to mend their relationship and return to love. Class and race are primary factors in the decisions the characters make. Near the very beginning of the story, Joe and Missie May talk about Slemmons and the way he looks and presents himself. Taking note of his larger figure, Joe proclaims, “He jes’ got a corporation. Dat make ‘m look like a rich white man. All rich men have some belly on ‘em” (4). The racial influence is evident as Joe compares Slemmons to a rich white man, hinting at the later discovery that Slemmons is faking his status as a rich man who likely took inspiration from white men to ascertain that …show more content…
While Missie May is still not up to her full strength after all that has transpired, she still attempts to be very playful with Joe. The difference in strength within Missie from the beginning of the story to the end establishes how, after all that has transpired, they still need to heal. Yet, they are both still holding on to each other and the playful nature of how things used to be before the events in the story, and now with them having a child to take care of, they need each other more than ever. And while at the end of the story, Joe is still throwing money in the doorway, it goes back to not being the primary focus of their relationship. The relationship they had while Joe held the gilded coin was broken, but through the exchange of gold for kisses and silver, their love could begin to return to the way it was before. Silver and money will still forever be a part of their lives, as it would for anyone, but once they are able to put it aside and focus more on each other and their life together, they are able to go back to the love they once
Within her article, A Society of One: Zora Neale Hurston, American Contrarian, Claudia R. Pierpont, a writer and journalist for The New Yorker, tells, analyzes, and gives foundation to Zora Neale Hurston’s backstory and works. Throughout her piece, as she gives her biography of Hurston, she deeply analyzes the significance of Richard Wright, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, as he accuses Hurston of “cynically perpetuating a minstrel tradition meant to make white audiences laugh”(Pierpont 3). By doing so, Wright challenges Hurston’s authority to speak for the “black race” as he claims that her works do not take a stance, rather she only writes to please the “white audience. ”As his critiques show to be oppressive, Pierpont reminds the reader the
When handling a controversial subject, it is important to recognize the opinion of everyone, not just of oneself. If an author does not recognize, at least to some degree, the opinion of everyone in their audience, they risk losing the interest of readers whose opinions are different. African American writers must consider how it feels to be an African American to their audience; they must understand that there is no such thing as one identity for an entire race.
“The Gilded Six Bits,” by Zora Neale Hurston is about a happily married couple, Missy May and Joe Banks, who discovers that something is missing from their life when sly Slemmons comes to town. The story exhibits how capitalistic-patriarchy dominates and eventually distorts Joe and Missy May’s marriage.
Zora Neale Hurston, author of the Gilded Six Bits, has a very unique writing style. The artistry in her story makes it a pleasant, easy read for any audience. The title suggests the story is based around money; but rather if one were to dig deeper the reality of the story is being told around the playfulness of money. Character disposition, an idealistic dialect, and the ability to work past an issue all work together to prove that Joe and Missie May’s lives are not strictly revolved around money.
Nichole Duncan Professor Engel English 1302 July 23, 2015. The Gilded Six-Bits The story is told from a third person point of view. This is important because it keeps the suspense alive for the reader. This particular mode of telling events keeps the reader at the same level of information as the characters.
Love caused his logic and sensibility to fail him, and provoked him to commit monstrous acts that destroyed many lives. Through analysis of “Happy Endings” by Margaret Atwood, it can be concluded that one of her many intended lessons was to show the value and the powerful effects of love. Atwood successfully proved this lesson by using powerful examples of both successful and disastrous relationships to illustrate the positive and negative effects of love. Atwood truly demonstrated what it is like to follow your heart.
“Spunk,” by Zora Neale Hurston, is a short story about a man who appears masculine and fearless claiming another man’s wife, but the tables turn by the end of the story. The short story begins with Spunk, the main character, walking off with Lena Kanty. Joe Kanty knows about the affair, but is too timid to confront Spunk.
Joe is considered an average man with big dreams before arriving at the town. After taking control as mayor his whole demeanor changed. Using a banker as inspiration Joe becomes someone solely focused on image and being above the other people in the town. The life he claims as is own is nothing but a façade with Janie as an ornament. Joes view on what Janies role was going to be was clear from the beginning he believed that a “pretty baby-doll lak you is made to sit on de front porch” making it clear that Janie is a valuable thing not a person (Hurston 29). Joe’s continues the show he is giving the town until Janie tires of them and embarrasses him on the stage he has built in front of his entire audience. The destruction of the façade that has been created over the years causes him to self-destruct, literally. His image is everything to him and once it is ruined he has nothing to live for anymore. The people he believed were below him now laugh at and no longer take him seriously. His life solely depended on keeping him self above the other people in his community without that ability he no longer had anything to live for. As shown in Larsen’s novel living with this idea of classism sometimes goes hand in hand with a struggle with
“The Gilded Six-Bits,” by Zora Neale Hurston is an amazingly, articulated, short story. In that the characters in this story share a great bond between each other. Additionally, it could be said that they also have very good character descriptions as well. This story follows the life of Missie May, her husband Joe, and the wannabe rich guy Mister Otis D. Slemmons. Now then, on to the main point, in how these three main characters are related to each other, how they are described, and the different types of characters these three are.
The Gilded Six Bits, a short story written in 1933 by Zora Neale Hurston, is
The story of “Spunk” by Zora Neale Hurston is a story that examines a complicated love triangle between the three main characters Spunk, Joe, and Lena. Set in the rural town of Eatonville, Florida, “Spunk” is told through the eyes of the towns people almost exclusive, and Hurston’s use of colloquialism invites the reader into the town to almost witness the gossip take place first hand. While the story is told through the eyes of the towns people and the narrator there is a theme that repeats itself and is displayed by the main characters that shape and drive the story. In the story “Spunk” pride, particularly hubristic pride, is a theme that drives the narrative of the story and is the underlying motivation for its main characters Spunk, Joe,
As immigrants began to flood into America in the late 1800's and early 1900's, they had hopes of a miraculous new life in the Land of the Free. They may have thought that they would not have to live in cramped and unsanitary conditions as they had in their old homes. They may have had hopes of finding a great new career that would skyrocket them to fame and fortune and allow them to live like the Carnegies, Rockefellers, and Morgans did. It could be possible that all their hopes were assured once they caught sight of the New York City skyline, expanding as far as the eye could see and stretching like arms spread welcoming home a loved one. The sun may have been shining bright and golden, bathing the not-so-distant city in a fantastic light. At a distance it was quite possibly one of the most exquisite sights that their eyes had ever come upon. However, the land that looked so beautiful and grand from the distance was actually filled with greed, corruption, and opportunists. That is how America can be described during the Gilded Age. The wrapping was pretty, but the present was awful.
There is nothing Missie May could have done to redeem herself of cheating on her husband. Even the night after Joe catches her cheating with Sessums, she does every little thing she can to redeem her betrayal of him. She “rushed hot biscuits to the table,” and when his coffee is empty, “She sprang to refill it” (949). However, Joe loves and forgives her unconditionally. Joe never raises his voice to Missie May after he catches her cheating; he only subtlety reminds her of what she has done with the gilded coin. Joe seems to be punishing her for her betrayal, but his pain does not come from the fact that he hates her; he is in pain because he loves her. Although there is never a hiatus to Missie May being his home, he keeps her at a distance for a while because he is inwardly hurt by what she has done. Her pain also stems from how much she loves him, and the thought of him not loving her gives her pain. While Missie May is crying, Joe asks, “’Missie May, whut you cryin’ fo?’” and she replies, ”‘Cause Ah love you so hard and Ah know you don’t love me no mo’’”(948). After Missie May says he will not love her anymore, he says, “’You don’t know de feelings of dat yet”’(948). Joe says this to show how he is going to give this situation time. He punishes her with guilt, but in the end, their marriage goes back to what it was before Sessums. Both are hurt by Missie May’s betrayal because both love each other so much. Because Joe’s
Lower class citizens in the 1800's were represented as good hearted people who took all they could get and make the best out of what they owned. Joe was described as a man of many words and a person who crafted and was skilled in his work. He worked as a blacksmith and made the best living he could from his small income. He became a victim of Mrs. Joe's abuse and also turned into a long lost friend of Pip's. His status in this particular book was represented as being an unpopular person, but someone who would give the shirt off of his back for the man who was striving to live more than he was. Joe never let Pip down even when Pip erased Joe from his memory. During Mrs. Joe's funeral service Pip came back to a saddened Joe with not a word to be said. Joe was a strong person during this time, but also held his heart in his throat thinking deep down he would never become something to Pip. Pip now being wealthy thought he would surround himself with wealthy humans, but in reality never understood the friendship Joe cherished and he also took for granted what Joe taught him in life. During the time of Pip's debt Joe came to Pip's rescue and nursed him back to stable condition. Pip had no money, but yet was considered upper class. Joe paid off all of Pip's debts out of the goodness of his heart and left Pip with these words on page 439," Not wishing to intrude I have departed fur you are well again dear Pip and will do better without.
When love is able to find a way around the obstacles that’s thrown at it, and come out safely, then, and only then, will it be known that love finds a way. Those who are careless and throw love around like a toy are easily mistaking love, for lust, and will never know the significance of love.