Essay Questions

Explain how the topic of sadism manifests itself in the Jonah's Gourd Vine by Zora Neale Hurston.

Aggression takes place frequently throughout the novel. The reader notices that most characters engage in brutal activities. Firstly, the reader realizes that Ned is a notorious character who is affectionate of abusing his wife whenever they have slight differences. Secondly, john can do anything to get a woman of his choice. He does not mind fighting and injuring other men as long as he gets the woman, he desires. Additionally, John hurts others to get money. Besides, he abuses his wife severely and threatens to beat her in case she goes against his will. What comes out clearly from the novel is that violence and aggression do not solve societal problems. Whenever John tries to solve his issues using violence, the result ends up even becoming catastrophic.

According to Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, how multifaceted is human life?

Zora Neale Hurston’s novel raises many questions as the readers to explore it. The author seeks answers on how an individual can judge what is right or wrong and whether it is possible to learn from one's mistakes. Throughout the novel, the author doubts the capability of spiritual reliance to balance the wishes of the flesh. The reader notices that Gourd Vine of Jonah does not any attempt to try to answer these questions. Therefore, the complexity of human life is evident in the entire novel because there are no answers to the raised questions regarding humanity.

How does Zora Neale Hurston use the character John to depict the imagery of touch to the readers?

When John attends school, he is separated from his family members. School keeps John away until he starts to feel lonely. The feeling of personal touch with his parents starts to decline. To avoid the void of personal touch to his family, he gathers the courage to mingle with other learners to have a personal touch which reduces his homesickness.