The Gilded Six-Bits comments on the betrayal and infidelity of Missie May against her husband, Joe. Throughout the story, it is portrayed that Missie May and Joe are in a happy, stable relationship, from their constant laughter and constant reassurance of their love. However, their happiness in the relationship was misleading as Missie May was found in bed with Slemmons. At first, Joe and Missie May don’t know how to act around each other, and Joe even comments on why he does not know why she is crying. They stop doing their Saturday morning traditions, and the coin, that Slemmons left behind, is still a symbol of the infidelity that Joe holds onto. As long as the coin stays, the memory of the betrayal are still engraved in their heads and they cannot move on. However, we see that with time, forgiveness and acceptance is possible in intimate relationships. In the end, Joe and Missie May go back to their normal Saturday morning routines, that symbolize the beginning of the forgiveness that can help their relationship go back to the way it was.
2 thoughts on “What commentary on forgiveness, reconciliation, and/or acceptance does the story contain? Does Hurston have a commentary on the role of any of these within an intimate relationship such as a marriage?”
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I completely agree with you regarding Hurston’s commentary on forgiveness and acceptance within a relationship. Hurston shows in the beginning of the story how strong the bond was between Missie May and Joe. Even though the couple goes through a rough patch in terms of Missie May’s infidelity, the strength of the relationship eventually brought the two back together. Joe was able to move on from the resentment he held against Missie May. Even though the couple was not able to necessarily return to what they used to be, they were able to grow past the hardships and rekindle their love for each other, while still holding onto some of their traditions.
I agree with you that it is displayed throughout the beginning of the text that Missie May and Joe are a very happy couple. However I looked at the infidelity and forgiveness in a different way. To me, it seemed like the story almost made infidelity seem okay. I felt like Missie May was acting more irregular than Joe was because of her guilt. And when he asked her why she was crying it seemed to me as though he felt nothing was wrong and they should just go about their marriage. In the end, they went back to their normal lives, which is why I think that the story makes infidelity seem expected/acceptable almost, or more of an “oh well, it happens” type of situation.