Topics for Further Study
- What drives Missie May to betray Joe by being unfaithful with Otis Slemmons? Do you believe Joe shares any responsibility for her actions?
- "The Gilded Six-Bits" can be seen as an exploration of various concepts of value. What are some different types of value that an object or person might possess beyond monetary worth? According to Hurston, what holds the greatest value?
- Hurston is renowned for capturing the richness of African-American oral traditions in her writing. The characters in her works often use language rich with metaphors. Identify as many metaphors as you can in the characters' dialogue in "The Gilded Six-Bits." How do these metaphors connect to the story's broader themes?
- Conduct some research on all-black towns in the United States. Do you consider them to be beneficial? How does Hurston's depiction of such a community in "The Gilded Six-Bits" shape your perspective?
- Writers of the Harlem Renaissance, contemporaries of Hurston, often depicted Northern cities as symbols of freedom and the rural South as linked to the oppressive legacy of slavery. Locate other short stories written by African Americans during the Harlem Renaissance and describe how they portray the customs and values of urban versus rural life. How do these portrayals compare to Hurston's in "The Gilded Six-Bits"?
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