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Hurston's rocky marriage was a major contribution to the story and could possibly symbolize how she wanted her own story to end. Hurston was married and divorced twice. Her first marriage, on May 19, 1927, was to Herbert Sheen, a jazz pianist, singer, and medical student; the two divorced shortly after on July 7, 1931. Zora Neale Hurston wrote The Gilded Six-Bits shortly after this tragic hardship. Another influential factor in the story is Hurston's life as an African American in the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance was a period in which black artists explored their culture and showed pride in their race.
This was expressed in literature, music and other art forms. Hurston and her stories about Eatonville became important during the Harlem Renaissance. The setting of The Gilded Six Bits, Eatonville Florida, was also a place of residence for Hurston throughout her life. Zora was born at a time of racial tensions between blacks and whites in the southern United States.
She never felt angry about being black. In her stories, she described Eatonville as a place where black Americans could live as they pleased (web). There are many literal themes in the story as well as the earlier mentioned themes. Hurston introduces the theme of appearances and reality in the first lines of the story. On the surface of things, the couple's yard is nothing but a ''Negro yard around a Negro house in a Negro settlement that looked to the payroll of the G and G Fertilizer works for its support. '' Hurston goes on to welcome readers inside the couple's home, describing their playful battle and teasing affection. What appears on the outside to be modest and meager is, in fact, rich with love and joy in life.
That is until something or rather someone breaks that up. The home of the newlywed couple is going great until a stranger comes to town. Ottis represents fame and fortune, because he talks about all the fame he got from the girls at different states and the fortune of his gold. From day one Joe Banks is jealous of Ottis' clothes, gold, and the fame that he receives.
He constantly talks about Ottis to his wife, Missy May. This raises a question: If Joe would have not talked about how great Ottis was all the time would Missy Mae have cheated on him? This poses another theme in the story. Even though Ottis seemed like a rich prosperous man, we find out later in the story that he is not.
As you can see there are many themes and symbols in the story, The Gilded Six-Bits, to support that the appearance is often only at the surface and that reality lies below. Whether it is on a person or literary level the author makes it clear that she believes in looking beyond the appearance of things. The way she lived is evident and it reflects in her writing style. This story is written to give us insight into the author's past, present life, and the morals that she holds inside. Appearance versus Reality how will you know the truth?
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Research essay sample on Gilded Six Bits Harlem Renaissance Story
