“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. “The Storm”, by Kate Chopin, is a short story about a woman who has intercourse with an old boyfriend, while her husband and son are at the store. While a storm is passing by Alcée happens to stop by and stays at Calixta’s during the storm. The two commit adultery, but never tell anyone. While there are many similarities between these two stories, there are also several differences. The central idea of “Spunk” is karma. Hurston demonstrates karma with the main character Spunk. When describing what happens to Spunk he says, “’Lige—the dirty hound pushed me in the back!” Spunk says “the dirty hound” in reference to Joe’s spirit whom pushes him for karma. When Elijah describes the bob cat roaming around Spunk’s house he says, “…stood right still an‘ looked him in the eye, an’ howled right at him” (2). Spunk says Joe did not look him in the face, and now Joe is back as a bobcat, whom directly looks at Spunk’s face to scare him. Hurston uses Joe’s spirit as an example of karma. …show more content…
It helps the reader determine when the stories take place, but also allowing the reader to feel the characters’ emotions. When Spunk talks about Joe he says, “‘Joe come out there wid a meatax an' made me kill him’” (2). The way Hurston spells “with” and “metal ax” demonstrates how there is limited education. Likewise, when Calixta talks to her husband she says, “‘W’ere you been during the rain? An’ Bibi? he ain’t wet? he ain’t hurt?”’ (271) Chopin uses dialect to also demonstrate the limited education during the time of her
Tone is the attitude of the author uses in the main idea of this short story. Hurston’s tone towards "Spunk," is a mashup of irony and heavy notes of seriousness. The serious tone she uses in the story is because of women, Joe Kanty’s wife who is cheating on her human with what i think is the main antagonist Spunk."Now Joe knew his wife had passed that way. He knew that the men lounging in the general store had seen her, moreover, he know that the men knew he knew." (QUOTE1)Hurston used the hostility to forge a serious tone in the story. Moreover in the larger plot the conflict between Joe and Spunk, "Joe came out there wid a meat axe an’ made me kill him." (QUOTE2) This also sets a serious tone that Hurston used to build the conflict in order
A person’s perception of a situation, may be changed by the context of how others portray it to them. A persons feelings may be easily manipulated by the words of another if not in the right state of mind. Verbally, a person is able to bring out certain emotions that may not be of their usual nature. A persons persona, in some cases, is also able to shape the way others around them feel. For example, in the short story “spunk” written by Zora Neale Hurston, the main character, Spunk, was able to turn on the townspeople’s ability to manipulate Joe, through subtle verbal abuse. His personality is able to shape the townspeople’s better judgment on the situation. Spunks actions are able to make others act in the same manner as him. The
Just like Hurston’s other stories, Spunk deals with the nature of marriage and the struggle between a strong man and a weak man. The setting of the story is in a rural all-black southern town whereby the people of the town speak in Southern African American dialect. Hurston wanted the reader to understand the kind of marriages blacks have and how adultery is apparent in the marriages. The themes in Spunk reflect the lives of the people in the South at the time the short story was written. Masculinity and power are common in the short story as Zora Hurston uses different literary devices for the reader to be able to analyze these themes in the story. Spunk and Lena are having an affair and they are not afraid to parade it for the town people to see them. In addition, Lena is ready to Marry Spunk even after he kills her husband Joe.
The destiny or fate following as effect from cause, also known as karma, overall classifies as an abstract idea. No one really knows if it is substantial or not; therefore, creating a lot of skeptics when it comes this concept. In life, when a person puts themselves aside and does a good deed for another, karma comes back in many forms for them. For example, when one does something charitable, later they may discover a ten dollar bill on the ground; some may believe karma disguised itself as the money while others deny that and claim it as no more than simply a coincidence. Skeptics deny and doubt any opinions regarding whether one’s actions, good or bad, find a way back at them; however, in the short story Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston, it seems that what goes
One of the key components of literature is the usage of elements, these elements of literature provides readers underlying themes that authors put into their story. Without these elements of literature, the author would have no way to convey their true messages into their works. In Zora Neale Hurston’s story “Sweat”, Hurston uses many elements of literature to convey the seriousness and true relationship of couples that have a history of domestic violence. However, a specific element of literature that Hurston uses are symbols which give readers a clearer understanding of domestic abuse and most importantly, the characteristics of the victim and perpetrator of an abusive relationship. The symbols that Hurston uses in her story are what fortifies her plot and characters in “Sweat”. The symbols that Hurston uses are necessary because it destroys the typical gender role stereotypes between men and women. This is necessary because there is such a difference between the portrayal of men and women, men often being superior to women. Hurston uses through her symbol to show some equality between men and women or at points women can also be superior against men.
In Kate Chopin’s “The Storm”, sin happens to make a bond stronger than before. The story illustrates a couple who seem to be similar to the nature surrounding them. Both Calixta and Bobinôt happen to be going through a stormy period in their marriage. Although they are going through this turbulent period, Bobinôt’s actions display his imperfect but unconditional love for his wife. Bobinôt may not be the husband Calixta dreams of, but throughout the story he illustrates that it does not matter what happens, the storm will pass and he will love her no matter what.
All in all, Kate Chopin is able to combine two very different aspects of life and involve the relationship and symbolism of the storm to physical needs, sexual desires, and new and profound joy. By bringing these two parallel subjects together, the author is able to show the deeper meaning of one simple word, “storm,” and reveal a story that shows the attitudes and beliefs towards marriage and sex. In doing so, Chopin creates a strong point of view between these two subjects and allows for the view of regulations of sex and marriage to be shown throughout her short story, “The Storm.”
Relationships force individuals to sacrifice some of their aspirations and ideals which leads to emotional wounds. Zora Neale Hurston uses an extended metaphor with symbolic images to expose the internal conflicts that arise from complications within relationships. Hurston constantly refers back to a vision of a blossoming tree to develop a symbol of Janie’s life, focusing on love. The author says: “The vision of Logan Killicks was desecrating the pear tree, . . .” (Hurston 83). This image is used to illustrate the power of a new relationship in Janie’s life. Her soon to be husband, Logan, will damage her tree. By including this metaphor, the author simplifies the abstract concept of love to an image that is seen in day to day life. As the reader follows Janie, he or she is able to understand her feelings through the symbol of the tree.
Throughout history writers have offered readers lessons through themes and often symbolized. In the story, “The Storm” by Kate Chopin is quite different from “The Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid; both have a different theme, symbol, throughout the stories. “The Storm” in Kate Chopin 's story can symbolize a number of different things: temporary, fleeting and quick action, and without consequences.
"Wading through waist high weeds, Alice Walker stumbled upon a sunken rectangular patch of ground", under it lay the forgotten literary genius of the South: Zora Neale Hurston (Boyd 2). Zora Neale Hurston, was an African-American novelist, folklorist, and anthropologist during the 1920s in Harlem, New York. The 1920s, also known as The Harlem Renaissance, African-Americans were able to express and represent their culture in its entirety, which until then had been pushed aside by the Whites. During this era Hurston not only embraced her culture, but provided women with a model on how to effectively contribute to it themselves. She showed them what it was like to be a woman writer and speak up for what she believed in regardless of the racial
The short story “The Storm” by Kate Chopin, deals with the subject of adultery. The story takes place in the early 1900’s. There are two main characters, Calixta (the wife) and Alcee (the former lover). Alcee must take refuge from a passing storm in Calixta’s house, while he is there the two end up making love while Calixta’s husband and son have to wait out the storm at the local store. By doing this Chopin implies the theme that is, adultery is natural and does not necessarily have negative consequences. Through out the story the constant changing of imagery plays a great role in the development of characters and their ability to demonstrate the theme.
Storytelling has been a common pastime for centuries. Over the years it has evolved into different styles containing different themes. Kate Chopin, a well-known author of the 20th century, wrote stories about the secrets in women’s lives that no one dared to speak of. Her work was not always appreciated and even considered scandalous, but it opened up a world that others were too afraid to touch. In Chopin’s story “The Storm,” a woman has an affair that causes an unlikely effect. The story’s two themes are portrayed greatly through an abundance of imagery and symbolism, along with the two main characters themselves.
In Kate Chopin’s “The Storm”, she offers an intoxicating account of two souls awakened by a storm. The story was composed on July 19, 1898. At this time in history women were considered objects, their sole purpose in life was to serve their husbands. In addition, social stratification was an important aspect of society that determined who they married. Calixta’s marriage could have been a product of an arrangement, making it of unnatural origin. Chopin points out singular characteristics of the storm to shed light on the uncommon strength of a marriage when it is not determined by social norms. Consequently, Chopin brings Calixta and Alceé together to embellish their passion, in which Calixta plays an active role rather than a submissive one.
Calixta and Alce, the two main characters in the short story “The Storm” by Kate Chopin, are sexual, mature, and knowing adults. By having them discover amazing sex outside their marriages, they return to their own marriages renewed. Chopin openly condones adultery due to the fact that the characters are not punished and in the end “everyone was happy” (paragraph 40) . A common theme of fresh sexuality and desire is seen in this story though symbols and other literary elements. Kate Chopin is an American author that wrote short stories and novels in the 20th century.
Kate Chopin is one of the most astounding writers of early American short fiction. This author is considered to be among the “most important women in nineteenth-century American fiction” ("Katherine Chopin"). She was also “a significant figure in American feminist literature”(Kort, par 1). One of her famous short stories is called “The Storm”. This article deals with the subject of infidelity and sexual fulfillment outside of marriage without moral judgments, which can be found in this piece.