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Analysis Of Gilded Six-Bits By Zora Neale Hurston

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Zora Neale Hurston was an American novelist who published more than 50 short stories. One of her stories is called “The Gilded Six-Bits” which is a story about a couple who loved each other, until one of them had an affair. The two main characters in the story are Joe and Missie May. Joe loved his wife and brought her chocolate kisses every day. Everything was going perfectly fine until one day a person named Otis Slemmons shows up to open an ice cream parlor and caused havoc in their marriage. Slemmons was wearing gold, which lured Missie May to him. A few days later, Joe returns home early and discovers that, there is something going on in his house when he hears Missie May. Joe was able to see Slemmons and Missie May together having an affair. Joe also managed to hit Slemmons with his gold watch. That is when Joe discovers that the gold Slemmons had was fake. After months go by Missie May becomes pregnant, and their newborn child brings them closer together. Hoeller Hildegard in her article “Racial Currency” states that, Zora Neale Hurston shows that race and money are the same issue. On …show more content…

Chinn claims that the story portrays a realistic life of someone living in the South. During this time everyone wanted to have gold because of its value. Chinn also says that Hurston has been underrated as a folklorist, who had ears, eyes, and fingers on storytelling. In a way Hurston is able to put herself in the story maybe even revealing something about her own personal life. Making money during this time became national concerns as the United States economic crisis deepened. Joe makes all the money, but the family only has necessities, such as fresh newspapers, dollar clock, and a clean meal sack. The couple still had enough to live their lives perfectly fine even though there was an economic

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