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Spunk By Zora Neale Hurston

1303 Words6 Pages

During the 1930’s, women were expected of nothing more than to lean on a man’s arm and look pretty. Women submitted to their husbands and looked like trophy wives among the public every single day. The evolving world would soon need women to stand up and become the leading voices for many who deemed themselves silent in the gender patriarchy. Therefore, Zora Neale Hurston was one of the most notable feminist writers of the time period. Although Hurston was never the first female associate justice of the Supreme Court nor was she the first woman to fly across the United States solo and nonstop, she made her name by writing literature that everyone else was too afraid to write, the feminist truth. It is clear that throughout many different novels, …show more content…

Much like Janie Crawford, Lena Kanty is the “pretty, small town” female character that longs for passionate love and to be affectionate with a partner rather than confined to the kitchen or to the other specific gender roles expected of women at the time in society. Hurston clearly preaches through the story of “Spunk” that women are more than just a wife to be working the household. Hurston believed that women had more purpose than what was expected of them which is why Lena Kanty went to another man who made treated her with passion and with a strong, wealthy arm to lean on. Lena was tired of submitting to Joe, so she moved on to the next man in hopes of escaping her patriarchal imprisonment which was a common theme throughout multiple of Zora Neale Hurston’s literary works. When Joe begs for Lena’s attention saying “Lena, ain’t I yo husband?,” she refuses in disgust for she already mentally moved on to the next man with hope for a change in her own heart and for happiness (Hurston 4). Eventually though, Lena learns that even Spunk’s attitude towards her is commanding and aggressively in control, therefore bringing her to tears in fear of the parallel life she’s embarking on compared to her previous marriage with Joe Kanty. Through the characters of the short story “Spunk,” Zora Neale Hurston teaches many lessons and passively preaches the importance of a woman finding her own security and independence for her own

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990 Words | 4 Pages

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).

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839 Words | 4 Pages

“Love is lak de sea. It’s uh movin’ thing, but still and all, it takes its shape from de shore it meets, and it’s different with every shore,” says Janie in “Their Eyes Were Watching God” (Hurston 191). This novel is about a woman who refuses to live in worry, bitterness, doubt, or preposterous romantic dreams. It is a story of a passionately independent Janie Crawford, and her maturing selfhood through her three marriages. Each husband was compared by the people and each were different in their own ways.

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1030 Words | 5 Pages

Janie’s first dream was dead, so she became a woman.” This realization made by Janie supports one of the biggest themes in this novel, which is that the concept of innocence and womanhood can’t exist at the same time. Because Janie finally lets go of her “childish fantasy”, her innocence is lost and she is now a woman. The theme of lost innocence in exchange for womanhood is also prevalent in Hurston’s story Sweat. This idea is one of the reasons that Sykes and Delia’s relationship begins to fall apart when we meet them.

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679 Words | 3 Pages

Evan Wheeler Ms. Gommermann Honors English 10 3 March 2023 Role of Women in Different Works In both her short story, “Sweat,” and book, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston brings forth the convention that black women are abused by their husbands; however, she highlights the different ways that the women in each story stand up for themselves. In the short story, “Sweat,” Delia defends herself from the beginning. Conversely, in Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie hesitates to assert herself until midway through the book. The outcomes of these women standing up for themselves are very similar, but the timing in which they do so are very different.

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340 Words | 2 Pages

In the short story “Spunk” by Zora Neal Hurston, the theme throughout the story shows that people get what they deserve from beginning to end. A character Hurston uses in the short story to show people get what they deserve would be Joe Kanty. Throughout the story, the other characters Elijah Mosley and Walter Thomas describe Joe as if he is not a threat in any sort of way. As they see Joe’s wife Lena Kanty with another man by the name of Spunk Banks and knows he is not going to do anything about it. Elijah and Walter, then tend to tease Joe “Say, Joe, how’s everything up yo’ way?

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642 Words | 3 Pages

After skimming through Volume 1 of The Norton Anthology Literature by Women, I noticed the reoccurring themes of patriarchy, women subordination, and the strength to be creative despite oppression. During the times that these literary pieces were written, women were constantly battling the patriarchy in order to get basic rights. During the earlier time periods, intelligence was seen as a sign of an evil spirit in a woman, resulting in miniscule amounts of literary works written by women. Women were not provided with equal spaces to creatively express themselves, as mentioned by Virginia Woolf. Moreover, they were not given the same publishing opportunities, many women either went anonymous or by a fake male name to have their works published.

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1746 Words | 7 Pages

One major theme authors universally write their stories around concern the power of human relationships. Though writers may take different paths to communicate this, the strength that comes from these unique connections that exist between individuals resonates with everyone. Authors clearly articulate through a myriad of rhetorical devices that maintaining relationships is a fundamental part in personal growth and allows for a stronger sense of self. In finding companionship and comradery. people become capable of evolving and arriving at better understandings of who they are.

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401 Words | 2 Pages

The Harlem Renaissance was the peak of creativity for African Americans in art, music, and literature. African Americans were discovering self-love and how amazing the Negro actually was. The “New Negro” refused the commonly perceived slave image that many blacks were still viewed as. In Zora Neale Hurston’s essay, "How It Feels to Be Colored Me." , she also explains her life and what is was like to be her in the time during the Harlem Renaissance.

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734 Words | 3 Pages

“A Jury of Her Peers” is a valuable resource for anyone curious to what life was like for women in the twentieth century for which it demonstrates women struggling to publish and define

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945 Words | 4 Pages

When someone’s story isn't public knowledge, the public tends to make up their story for them. In the novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston uses third-person narration to demonstrate Janie’s story being told in a way of which she is not in control. By giving her story to Pheoby, Janie hopes to suppress the gossip and assumptions that have been made about her in order to earn her place in society. The role of storytelling demonstrates the necessity of a woman’s story in being part of a community.

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1727 Words | 7 Pages

The theme of women openly embracing their sexuality and exploring their desires. This concept is often deemed taboo in patriarchal societies, much like many of the themes considered throughout the novel. Though the idea of women freely giving in to their sexuality is essentially frowned upon, Hurston uses that to her advantage and creates a pipeline between the two. Janie's journey through self-discovery and self empowerment is closely tied to her sexuality, as she learns to embrace her desires and find fulfillment in her relationships with men.

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669 Words | 3 Pages

”Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston tells the story of Sykes Jones, and his wife, Delia, who never strays from her beliefs. Sykes’ character traits lead him directly to his death. His cruel treatment of his wife results in her stand by and do nothing as he walks into death’s arms. His arrogance leads him to believe that he has control over things that he does not. His infidelity is a catalyst for it all, as he wants Delia out of her own house, and he will stop at no measure to get her out.

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184 Words | 1 Pages

In the novel A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, there is specific gender stereotypes that are portrayed in the novel which challenges those of our contemporary society. These gender roles that are presented in the novel mainly portray an old-fashioned society. In the novel, Lena is seen as the typical female gender role of the 1940s/1950s which is particularly seen when she states,”“He finally come into his manhood today, didn’t he? Kind of like a rainbow after the rain... ”(Hansberry 3.1.151)”.

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450 Words | 2 Pages

A LITERATURE CLASS ON THE WORKS OF ZORA NEALE One of the most memorable classes I had today was the literature class which was focused on Zora Neale Hurston's "How It Feels to Be Colored Me". The class was taught by Miss Tushabe, who was incredibly knowledgeable about Hurston's work and was able to bring the text to life for us. The main point of the class was to understand the personal experiences of Hurston, as a Black woman in America during the 1920s and 1930s, and how she used the essay to express her sense of self and identity.

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1141 Words | 5 Pages

From the outset, literature and all forms of art have been used to express their author’s feelings, opinions, ideas, and believes. Accordingly, many authors have resorted to their writing to express their feminist ideas, but first we must define what feminism is. According to the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, feminism is “the belief that women should be allowed the same rights, power, and opportunities as men and be treated in the same way, or the set of activities intended to achieve this state”. As early as the fifteenth century is possible to find feminist writings. Centuries later, and although she never referred to herself as one, the famous English writer Virginia Woolf became one of the greatest feminist writers of the twentieth

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