Spunk | Rainbows of Darkness: Deconstructing Shakespeare in the Work of Gloria Naylor and Zora Neale Hurston
In the following excerpt, Traub asserts that
‘‘Spunk’’ offers a new perspective on Shakespeare’s
Hamlet. Traub argues that, similar to Lena, Gertrude
exercises personal prerogative when finding
herself defined as ‘‘an object of property.’’
. . . African-American women writers’ return to Shakespearian drama is hardly surprising, for what more obviously status-studded example of Anglo- European patriarchal culture exists to ‘‘signify’’ or ‘‘trope’’ upon? I will first briefly discuss the way in which Hurston’s short story ‘‘Spunk’’ rewrites, by means of a few words, Gertrude’s marriage to Hamlet’s uncle, transforming an action that in Hamlet’s mind is equated with adultery and incest into the personal prerogative of any woman who finds herself defined as an object of property. I will then...
[The entire page is 710 words long]
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