The Gilded Six-Bits

On several occasions Otis D. Slemmons is compared to a rich white man or given a superlative in comparison to others of his race: “He got de finest clothes Ah ever seen on a colored man’s back” (89). Consider how the representation of wealth in “The Gilded Six-Bits” intersects with or is complicated by race.

Zora Neale Hurston was a noted anthropologist and folklorist who would have been inspired by the folk tales she collected in Florida. Research some of these folk tales and compare and contrast “The Gilded Six-Bits” to one of your choosing.

“The Gilded Six-Bits” takes place during the Great Depression. Conduct some research on the period—economic, cultural, and/or social—and write an essay exploring how the short story represents the period.

One of the themes of “The Gilded Six-Bits” is Sex, Physical Desire, and Marriage. How does Hurston’s depiction of marriage and gender roles reflect the era in which she published the story?

Appearances are often deceiving in “The Gilded Six-Bits.” At the same time, characters are very preoccupied with how they and others are perceived—e.g., Joe telling Missie May to wear her best clothes to the ice cream parlor. What is the story saying about the role of performance in social life?

The story describes time metaphorically: In one instance, it has “rusty ankles,” while in another, it is a great wheel with a belt. What are some of the other ways in which the story discusses time or marks its passage? Why is time important in this story?

When Joe leaves the store to head home to his newborn son and Missie May, the clerk turns to another clerk and says, “Wisht I could be like these darkies. Laughin’ all the time. Nothin’ worries ’em” (98). How does the story challenge this racist stereotype of African Americans? 

Pick two or three symbols in “The Gilded Six-Bits” and write an essay about their importance to their story.