Essay on Appearance vs Reality in Everyday Use and The...

Appearance versus Reality in Alice Walkers and Zora Neale Hurstons Everyday Use and The Gilded Six-Bits In The Gilded Six-Bits it appears that Otis D. Slemmons, the towns newest arrival, is rich, but by closer inspection by Joe Banks and Missie May, is found to be poor. In Everyday Use, Maggie doesnt appear to be smart enough to honor and appreciate her heritage, but she and not Dee/Wangero is really preserving the family traditions as well as heritage. Both The Gilded Six-Bits by Zora Neale Hurston and Everyday Use by Alice Walker have the theme of appearance and reality. Hurston and Walker use the theme of appearance versus reality to convey the message that things arent always as simple as the outward†¦show more content†¦They were both taken in by his slick ways. The lesson has been costly but because the foundation upon which the marriage was built has been strong, the marriage has survived. Missie and Joe genuinely love each other and both have enough courage, determination, and trust in each other to weather the storm (Howard 152). The marriage was built on a stron g reality. They were both taken in by Slemmons (slimy), but they had to remember that all they really needed was each other. Joe remarks, That was the best part of life - going home to Missie May. Their white-washed house, the mock battles on Saturday, the dinner and ice cream parlor afterwards, church on Sunday nights when Missie outdressed any woman in town - all, everything was right (2091). Robert Bone, in his book Down Home: Origins of the Afro-American Short Story says, Hurstons sole attempt to deal with the urban scene, depicts the self in jeopardy from false, urban values. The Gilded Six-Bits brings the theme full circle (138). Missie and Joe have to, and do, get back to their original simple ways of showing affection for each other. Performing the little rituals they did before being dazzled by Slemmons, and his false outward appearance. The theme of appearance and reality more clearly comes through in the story Everyday Use. The older daughter in the story Dee/Wangero appears to be in touch with her heritage. As Houston Baker and Charlotte Pierce-Baker point