Zora Neale Hurston’s “Drenched in Light Assignment | Online Homework Help

Dialogue/Dialect Does the dialogue/dialect read naturally? Does the dialogue/dialect move the story forward and reveal character? Do the characters have their own individual, consistent voices? What does the character’s dialogue tell us about the character(s)? Consider why the author makes the choice to have characters speak as they do. Is the dialogue problematic (patronizing, stereotypical)? Is dialect used well? Why do you think the author chose to use/not use dialect? Characterization Are the character’s actions appropriate for his/her role? Are the actions of this character sufficiently motivated? Is the main character(s) multi-dimensional, showing a range of emotions appropriate to conflict? Does the main character come alive for the reader

“Drenched in Light”

“Drenched in Light” is part of the Harlem Renaissance movement which got edited by David Lewis. It is a movement in the 1920s and an early manifestation of black consciousness in United States, which includes an American author named Zora Neale Hurston. Hurston wrote “Drenched in Light” in 1924. The story essentially is about the reflective of her childhood. Hurston displayed Isis, a young girl that lives with her strict disciplinary grandmother, Potts, from whom she constantly thinks of a way to escape. Isis and her Grandmother are personification of two different cultural ideologies about African culture. The grandmother is the epitome of old and strong tradition characterized by inculcating certain principles and mannerisms among their progeny.

Firstly, her grandmother stated “You isie watts! Git’own offten dat gate post an’rake up dis yahd!” (695). Her grandmother angrily tells Isis that she needs to go to the gatepost and rake up the yard in a harsh tone. This is where their relationship started and also where her grandmother introduces to the audience the method of the replicating accent.  Isis is forced to do all chores despise her having older siblings. Her grandmother tries to keep her busy with chore at all times. This way Isis won’t have the opportunity or chance to wave at passer-bys. Isis usually will make her time just to see she accomplish her goal for the lady. Though she grew up in a disadvantage situation she still finds a way to do things she loves like dancing.

Next, the dialect Hurston used in the short story also helped define Isis state and condition. It is utilized in the early 1900’s somewhere in the southern Florida. It conveys the uniqueness of the culture. It sends a message to audience because the spellings do not exist in this newer generation. It also indicates how old her grandmother is, and where her point of view is coming. Her grandmother speaks the dialect perfectly and this shows the audience how she loves her culture. She does not want to lose any of it and she is proud of it, too. It is noted that Isis speaks grandmother dialect. Isis stated “Mah Gawd, mah brand new table cloth Ah jus’ bought f’un O’landah!” (702). Isis has the fear of her Grandmother instilling her ideas and still does not change anything about her; instead, she flew away from the house. More often, a crash between harsh traditional treatment and the modern liaise-faire way of life can present dangerous and life-threatening situation. Usually the young ones contemplate taking their lives due to some frustration that goes with it. Unable to stand the traditional, disciplinary approach, Isis thought of committing suicide. She states, “Ah’m goin’ drown mahseff in th’ creek… Ah’m killin mahseff cause Gran’ma beat me too much” (700).

Secondly, as indicated in the story; the grandmother stated “you’se too oomanish, jumpin’ up in everybody’s face that passes” (695). Contrarily, Hurston chooses Isis to represent the modern generations who are flexible and easy going regardless of the culture or race. For instance, Isis “joins the carnival” organized by the white men and women.  Again, Hurston tells her story as exemplified in Isis, namely; Isis childhood is static, she does not change but she changes the people around her. Being in a different generation from the grandmother, Isis believe in cultural-mix. She freely joins and partakes in the carnival. The white woman after the carnival session indicated “I would like just a little of her sunshine to soak into my soul. I would like that a lot” (701). Isis sees the world as a glorious thing and lives her life to make herself happy, though she grew up in a disadvantage situation.

However, her grandmother named her Isis on purpose, which means Egyptian Goddess. Isis means new life because is well respected goddess in the Egyptian world. For example, her Grandmother stated “you’se too ‘oomaanish jumpin’ up in everybody’s face that passes” (695). While the grandmother does not appreciate her energy, Isis loves to wave at and greet passer-byes. Sometimes she would even go down the road with them if they ask her to, and everyone appreciates her energy more than her Grandmother does. One would note that when grandmother was Isis age, she never behaved the way she does. For the grandmother, Isis is too hyperactive for her age. Isis is someone that loves putting smile in people face and she has no room to do what she enjoys in her leisure time. Her grandmother implies that her culture forbids her likes.

Thirdly, though Isis values her culture, some changes needs to be in place. Her grandmother talks about the “the trailing gowns, the gold shoes with blue bottoms, the white charger, and the time her Hercules and had slain numerous dragons and sundry giants” (697). These changes are more theoretical as compared to the present generation because she has no capacity to accomplish them. Symbolism her grandmother Presented are not too flexible to give Isis room to attain such endeavor. This is exactly how things were in the 1800’s. Her grandmother believes in the olden day’s culture not realizing that Isis does not analyze issues or think the way she does. The grandmother was distressed about Isis’ hyperactivity, because she feared others could misconstrue Isis as prostitute. One of the passers-byes’ stated, “I want her to go to the hotel room and dance for me” (702).  In other to stop this from happing, she tried to remove her from public appearances by keeping her busy with house chores at all times.

Futhermore, Hurston stated, “misery and woe settled down upon her and the child wept. She knew another whipping was in store for her” (700). Isis never for once experiences love from her grandmother, and still did not change anything about how she chooses to love her back. Isis loves her grandmother regardless how much grandmother scolds her every day. Isis states, “Aw, know! Les’ we all shave her. You lather an’ Ah shave” (698). Isis gets beating each time sometime goes wrong; her grandmother makes her take responsible for every mistake. Her grandmother was over protective and is not too clear with her expectations from Isis. Isis grandmother only points out her mistakes, which makes one wonder how perfect she wants Isis to become. Her grandmother only wanted the best for her grand daughter not knowing she is adding more harm.

Lastly, Isis got in so much trouble to the point she decided to take her own life. Sometimes the way one is treated affects them psychologically. Isis almost gave up at this point that she decides to take her own life this way she can rest from the troubles so her grandmother can live alone. Hurston makes the audience understand that if she could go back in time she wished not to have grandmother Potts. Her grandmother that does not care about her feelings. Everything revolves around her.

In addition, regardless what her grandmother did to change Isis nothing worked on her. Isis is full of adventures, and she brightens people around her and makes them happy. One passer-by stated, “I want brightness and this Isis is joy itself, why she’s drenched in light (702). Given her background, grandmother probably believes that being cheerful and nice to strangers would make Isis not become a responsible person. Her grandmother wanted the best for Isis; but failed to understand how Isis feels about the approach she uses. This short story is something worth recommended for grandmothers with lots of old fashioned principles; because applying Isis grandmother principles to this generation seems acceptable. It does not in anyway have a negative impact in them. Isis loves the idea that she makes people happy, and does it at the right time.

In conclusion, with all been stated one will think that Isis personality will change overtime whether fame or victory. The names, objects, and places that is develop in “Drenched in Light” were all from Hurston’s life experience. Isis spirit continues to shine who she really is in real life of Hurston. Isis did not change anything about her childhood; she refused to change or become someone else. Everything about Isis remained the same from beginning to the end.

Works Cited

“The Portable Harlem Renaissance Reader”. Paw Prints, 2008.