The Effects Of Love In The Gilded Six-Bits By Zora Hurston

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Love is the Key to Happiness
They say that money is the root of all evil, or more specifically that the love of money is the root of all evil. This statement proves itself true in today’s capitalistic society in which money is power. Some people believe that money can and will buy their happiness, so they tend to condone foul behavior and do whatever it takes to obtain money. Sometimes money provides temporary happiness or satisfaction, but it does not breed pure happiness which stems from love. In “The Gilded Six-Bits”, Zora Hurston puts Joe and Missie May’s relationship to the test, using money as a distraction, to prove that love is the driving force to happiness, not money and fortune.
In the beginning of the story it is evident that the …show more content…

Missie May implied that waking up next to Joe was like waking up to a stranger. They now had short conversations and instead of seeing money stacked on the table, Missie May now saw the gold chain on the table. Joe carried the gold chain in his pockets daily. "In fact the yellow coin in his trousers was like a monster hiding in the cave of his pockets to destroy her” (Hurston 733). This quote expresses the negative effects of the gold chain. It is ironic because the purpose of the gold chain was to bring happiness into their house, but instead it brought misery upon Missie May. She used to anticipate Joe’s arrival back home with excitement so she could reach into his pockets and find sweet candy for herself or money for them both. Now Missie May restrained from reaching into Joe’s pockets, because she knew what was in there, the chain that reminded her of her disgusting act which ruined her happiness. Missie May loved Joe so much that she would not leave him, but she didn’t understand why Joe still stayed with her after she had cheated on him. Joe didn’t leave his wife, but he did begin to separate himself from her more each day. "It had been three months since Missie had touched his body and it all seemed strange. But she rubbed him. Grateful for the chance” (Hurston 734). This quote calls attention to the absence of physical expression in their relationship now. Their relationship had become stale and awkward as opposed to the previous time when they play fought all the time. They weren’t as playful and giggly with each other, and they didn’t have long talks anymore. Missie May missed those good, happy times. Now she felt as though she didn’t deserve Joe’s love after what she had

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