The Gilded Six-Bits Betrayal Quotes

Ironically, this statement comes from Missie—the very person who sleeps with Slemmons later on in the story. Everything she says, up until the point she gets caught, is anti-Slemmons and pro-Joe. We guess in this case, actions really do speak louder than words. 

Joe makes this observation about Slemmons. If you ask us, we'd be willing to bet Slemmons is so popular with the 'lady people' because of his money. Thanks to Joe's frequent blabbing about Slemmons, we know he's a playboy and a smooth talker—that's partly why he got the attention of Missie May.

Missie is star (gold) struck! Before she sees Slemmons in the ice cream parlor, she thinks he's nothing special. We can tell she's changing her mind when she sees his gold money; that might be why she compliments Joe by saying the gold would look better on him. She might be trying to focus her attention back on her husband after being momentarily distracted by another man. We're pretty sure this is some classic foreshadowing in action right here. 

Hmm, something's fishy in the Joe and Missie household. Joe's first thought when he gets home early from work is that there's a thief in his house, but it turns out to be none other than Slemmons. This is the first real uh-oh moment of the story, the point when Missie and Joe's marriage is no longer just fun and games.

The story turns significantly darker as poor Joe is shocked into the realization that his life will never be the same again—or at least not for a long time. After being so happy and thinking about having a baby with Missie, this is a pretty tough moment for Joe as a husband and a man. Talk about a 180-degree turn; poor guy. 

When Missie says this to Joe she's sure that he will never forgive her betrayal and that their marriage is doomed. It's not a crazy thought, either; after all, she did cheat on Joe in their own bed. Still, Hurston keeps us guessing about their fate right until the very end.

Yeah, we're not sure this reason makes it all good. Sure, Missie claims she slept with Slemmons to get money for both Joe and herself, but couldn't she have done it in a less hurtful way? Like, maybe by getting a job, or cutting back on sweet potatoes and ice cream? Just a thought.

In the book of Genesis, Lot and his wife are told by angels not to look back at their hometown, Sodom, as they escape from danger. Lot's wife, of course, looks back and turns into a pillar of salt. This is a warning by Joe to Missie not to live in the past, to move on and stop crying so much. Good advice, but easier said than done. 

Despite cheating on Joe, Missie's still head over heels for the man. In fact, we're willing to bet she's even more in love now, having realized the awful mistake she's made. 

The gilded six bits is not only the title of the story, but the reason for the crisis in Missie and Joe's marriage. It's a false symbol of affluence, of a better life, when all along they were happy and not wanting of anything. Money leads to betrayal, and the near ruin of a perfectly happy marriage.