Their Eyes Were Watching God (Ch 6+7): White Envy

In chapter 6 of Hurston's novel, Hurston reveals a subtle and hidden desire within the black characters to be white. She first illustrates the local men in Eastonville to engage in numerous philosophical conversations, such as wether caution or nature "keeps uh man from gettin' burnt on uh red-hot stove" (Hurston 65). While the local black men attempt to sound intelligent and pensive, their conversation ironically makes them seem less intelligent; however, Hurston reveals that while the reader identifies a lack of education, the townspeople believe men such as Sam and Lige to be extremely bright, which discloses that most of the town lacks much education. One questions why Sam and Lige choose to engage in these conversations, and one supposes that they strive to be respect by their town. Sadly enough, although they attempt to obtain a sense of intellectuality similar to white people, Sam and Lige will never be as knowledgeable or as respected. Furthermore, when Hurston introduces Daisy, she announces that Daisy takes the "center of the stage" away from the other women (Hurston 67). Throughout Daisy's description, each characteristic is associated with white. Although her skin color is black, "she know that white clothes" suit her, or her "big black eyes with plenty shiny white," and even her "negro hair" has "got a kind of white flavor" (Hurston 67). After describing Daisy, one learns that she is highly desired by all the men in town. One questions whether her "whiteness" is what makes her so appealing, and thus one wonders what blacks in Hurston's novel really strive to become.