Theme Of The Glided Six Bits

The Glided Six Bits

It is a short story by Zora Neale Hurston published in1933. The story is about love, betrayal and forgiveness. In the story, the romantic relationship between the two protagonists, Joe Banks and Missie May is interrupted by a big talker from Chicago, Otis Slemmons. Otis can be considered as the antagonist but in the story the main antagonist is wealth and jealousy. Hurston uses the power of symbolism to develop the meaning of the story. The main theme of the story is the money is not the real happiness, but it might ruin the real relationship. The meaning of the story is told by using the symbols of candy kisses, the glided six bits, silver coins and the baby.

Joe Banks used to work the night shift in the fertilizer company.

In the beginning of the story Joe brings home the silver coins after getting paid along with the candy. We can see them collecting those silver coins for the future, probably for their forthcoming baby. In this case, it can be assumed that silver coins are used as the symbol of caring and responsibility. As soon as Joe keep chunking silver coins in the door way, Missie May seems happy and come outside to greet him. Also, silver and gold is used to identify the social status of Joe and Otis. Silver symbolizes the working class whereas the golden watch and ring of Otis symbolizes the rich

She tries to help Joe getting those gold. She gets into the physical intimacy with Otis because he promised her to give those gold. The golden watch and ring of Otis are not real and they are only gold plated. The gold chain watch is the symbol of betrayal and deception. The watch is not real as it looks and Otis is the same. He is as fake as the watch. She was deceived by the wealth of Otis. She believed the wealth can bring happiness to their life. Appearance can be deceiving sometimes. The golden watch appears real but is fake and so is Otis. The fake gold also reminds Missie that gold cannot bring happiness between her and Joe. It almost ruined their relationship.

At the end of the story, Missie gives birth to a baby boy. The baby does not have a significant role in the story but the baby is the symbol of happiness in the story. After the birth of the baby, Joe and Missie appears to look happy again. The baby is also the symbol of renewal. It gives them the motivation to stay together again. Joe is back again buying those candy kisses and collecting silver coins. Like in the beginning of the story, he starts throwing silver coins in the doorstep to make Missie happy. The baby brings the happiness back to their family, which she thought the gold coins