Symbolism In The Gilded Six-Bits

Zora Neale Hurston’s “The Gilded Six-Bits” features a newlywed couple living in a black settlement. At the beginning of the story the couple seems content and blissfully married however, their relationship is put to the test when Joe catches his wife Missie May cheating on him with another man. Missie May’s infidelity shatters the trusting and playful nature of their relationship but by the end of the story, the couple is eventually able to get past this devastating act of betrayal. Throughout the story, Hurston uses symbols such as a fake gold coin, Otis D. Slemmons, and the couple’s marriage to comment on the fact that the things we desire are not always what we expect and need them to be. The gold coin that Missie May cheats to get is not …show more content…
In the beginning, Hurston paints a pretty picture that is almost too good to be true. The couple is playful and caring. They appear to care about each other even with their lack of money. This rosy picture is abruptly replaced by a far more sinister reality. Instead of being an unrealistic depiction of black people which has gone on for decades. Their marriage after her infidelity shows that black people and black women in particular are real and complex. They aren’t these forever happy mannequins. Joe goes from attentive and charming to aloof and passive aggressive as he deals with the raw sense of betrayal that he experiences. Missie May a flirty and care free wife becomes reserved as she attempts to find her new place in her marriage after hurting her husband and losing his trust. This couple goes through a cornucopia of emotions as the work hard to keep their marriage together. Joe and Missie May symbolize the unfiltered version of what it means to be poor, married, and black. Through this symbol, Hurston comments on the notion that black people are childlike, uncomplicated and lacking depth. Through this couple she exemplifies the humanity of black