Joe and Missie May’s original innocent happiness begins to detoriate when they become fascinated with Ottis D. Slemmon. Slemmon, a stranger in town, represents a new world of wealth and urbanity. Living on money given to him by white women in Chicago, Slemmon has eradicated the southern way of life in exchange for an urban class, which fascinates Joe. Slemmon covered in gold, as Joe describes, “He’s got a five-dollar gold piece for a stickpin and he got a ten ten-dollar gold piece on his watch chain and his mouf is jes’ crammed full of gold teeth”(Hurston 254), is no longer is a man, but rather a symbol. Through Joe’s idolization of Slemmon, it is apparent that he wants to become part of this “wealthy” new world. Although Missie May is first u

When Joe finally looses his grip on the coin it is symbolic for him also loosing some of his anger. When the baby boy is born initially, Joe has no reponse. It is only after his mother tells Joe that the baby is, “. . . de spittin’ image of yuh, son. Dat’s yourn all right.”(Hurston 259) that Joe finally starts to show his forgiveness of Missie May. He attends the foot of her bed every day to inquire about how she is doing. Joe indicates his finally forgiveness when he visits the candy store, the first time in a year, and uses the entire coin to buy Missie May candy kisses. “He is determined only to buy kisses since they represent real kisses and his willingness to be playful again” (Chinn and Dunn 15). The disposal of the coin is final step for Joe in ending his anger.

Although Missie May put the coin back in Joe’s pocket, he refuses to spend it. The refusal to spend the money symbolizes his refusal to let go of his anger and lost pride. With out spending the money, Joe is also not sexually, spending time with his wife. When Missie May confides to Joe that she is pregnant, Joe feels for the coin in his pocket, reminding himself of his past hurt and disbelief that she may be pregnant with his child.

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