Spunk

Zora Neale Hurston’s “Spunk” is a work that analyzes what courage really is. The title in itself represents the noun that signifies balls, courage and resolution; the character Spunk being a symbol of that bravery act itself. Hurston uses to highlight every word that comes out of each character’s mouth. Especially in the beginning when Elijah Mosley says, “But that’s one thing Ah likes about Spunk Barks—he ain’t skeered of nothing’ on God’s green footstool—nothing!” This embodies Spunk’s person and then renders him a FOIL to Joe Kanty’s measly, door-mat character that nurses a coffee while he’s conscious of the fact that his wife’s run off with the local monster. Spunk’s literary hugeness is so that it highlights Joe’s submissiveness and compliant persona. Their opposing personalities also mixes with the sardonic tone of some parts of the text ---most of which are ironic and questioning of women and their status as well as defects--- like when the narrator states that Spunk’s case was a “clear case of defense” when describing the court case. The obvious sarcasm masking the tone creates an overall hint of antagonism and dislike for the character Spunk, suggesting there must be more to him that suggests him to be the powerful and worship-worthy character that he is.
Hurston also makes allusions to Hamlet and Goliath. The Hamlet aspect might have been coincidental and not at all on purpose, but the perpetual insults towards women such as, “ A woman knows her boss and answers when he calls,” and “He done moved most of Lena’s things—and her along wid’em,” remind the reader of Hamlet’s contempt towards the female gender. When Joe’s wife marries Spunk just after Joe’s death, Walter says, “Joe ain’t even had time to git cold yit,” reminding one of Hamlet’s mother marrying Claudius so soon after her previous husband’s death. This allusion builds to create the revenge and justice theme that is Hamlet around this particular work. Another allusion, and probably the most important of all, is the allusion to Goliath. At the end of the piece, Elijah describes Joe’s father as “leering triumphantly down upon the fallen giant,” fallen giant resonating and portraying that Goliath we all know so well. This reference is made clearer when Walter explains his reasons for why he believes Joe is braver than Spunk. “Lookit whut he done; took a razor an’ went out tofight a man he knowed toed a gun an’ wuz a crack shot, too; ‘nother thing Joe wuz sakeered of Spunk, skeered plumb stiff! But he went jes’ the same. It took him a long time to giet his nerve up. Tain’t nothin’ for Spunk to fight whe he ain’t skeered of nothin.” And so we see Joe as David, a meer kid that pales against Goliath in both size and in accomplishments--- and Spunk as the Goliath that fears nothing and is eventually beaten by David. Joe ups Spunk after his death but the theme is still the same. What makes courage is the ability of one to confront one’s fears. Joe feared Spunk while Spunk never feared anyone and so whatever he did that people assumed was due to “bravery” was not bravery at all if just an idea of badly masked power. Even though Joe died, he dived head first into a battle with someone he feared so very much and that makes him braver than anything Spunk ever did. Courage is facing your fears. Not inspiring them in someone else.