How Does Kanty Characterize In Spunk

Insensitivity equals Demise

“You (Elijah Mosely) oughtn’t to said whut you said to him (Joe Kanty), ‘Lige ---look how it worked him (Joe) up,” Walter chided. “And Ah (Elijah) hope it did work him (Joe) up. Tain’t even decent for a man to take and take like he do.”
“Spunk will sho’ kill him.” (Terry 259). In this conversation, writing by Zora Neale
Hurston in the short story “Spunk”, two men from Eatonville disagree on how to tell Joe Kanty he is viewed as a coward and needed to defend his honor with his wife, Lena Kanty. She had left
Joe for a man named Spunk. The two men fought over her as if she was a trophy. Lena Kanty,
Spunk Banks, and Joe Kanty actions caused their downfall. To show the insensitivity that they all shared their

Elijah shapes the judgement and view of the community. He tells the community men
Spunk is not afraid of anything on “God’s green footstool.” (Terry 258). Spunk was very insensitive to people, especially to husbands/boyfriends of women he cheated with. He was a ladies man, but would take off with other men wives/girlfriends. Hurston wanted the understanding that Spunk was a big man that no one dared approached. Spunk approach with
Lena and Joe was viewed as reckless by the town. He had an inability to sacrifice and didn’t view his actions with Lena as wrong. He could have caused less damage by simply having a, suitable for all, approach. After killing Joe, Spunk had to step up and become the second husband to Lena. This action showed his true love for Lena, because he could’ve had any woman in town but he wanted her. Spunk being unfearful of taking another man’s wife wouldn’t change if Joe wasn’t a weak man, explained by Elijah “If Joe was a passle of wile cats Spunk would tackle the job just the same. He’d go after anything he wanted the same way.”(Terry 259). Spunk was a bully that also liked being in control. Spunk and Joe took on personal missions to try and make Lena happy. Being selfish in their own right, no one was willing to give up the fight, not even

She is as much to blame as Joe and Spunk. Her leaving Joe for Spunk was done in a selfish and cruel manner. She came across as a heartless person when she “looked at him (Joe) real disgusted” (Locke, “Harlem Renaissance”), as he stood in front of her and Spunk. Instead of belittling her husband she could have chosen to get divorce. With her being with Spunk she doesn’t make sacrifices to stop the disaster from occurring. She could have choose other options and consider the fact that she was involved with Joe before committing to Spunk. Her inability to sacrifice was shown when she said nothing standing next to Spunk as Joe plead his love for her, “‘Lena, ain’t I yo’ husband?’” (Locke, “The Harlem Renaissance”). Lena was determined to have things the way she wanted. She refused to leave her house as Spunk advised, but didn’t want to struggle financially with her husband. Hurston made it seem as if she was with Spunk for security and not love, which explains her carelessness. She was a key factor that could of change the way things went with the two men. In front of everyone Lena refuses her marriage and struts the streets with Spunk, described by Elijah “Theah they go, big as life an’ brassy as tacks.” (Terry 258). Her actions left a question of her love for Joe and motive with Spunk. She left Joe to waddle in his feelings all alone. Lena was left without a husband because of her,