The visit of the two white women from Minnesota is important for Zora as it kindles a love of reading in the young girl, one that will inspire her to be a writer. The ladies are clearly impressed to hear the young girl read, so much so that they invite her to lunch at their hotel and give her a gift of some books. The significance of this episode in Zora's life cannot be underestimated. A clear link has been established in her mind between her enjoyment of reading and the existence of a much bigger world outside the small Florida town in which she lives. This acts as an inspiration, encouraging her to strive hard, to leave her hometown behind and get an education.
In “Dust Tracks on a Road,” two white women from Minnesota visit young Zora’s classroom and, when they hear her read, invite her to have lunch with them at their hotel. Before this meeting, Zora had to get cleaned “and brushed from head to feet, and I must wear shoes and stockings.” At the meeting, the women served her food “strange” to her, like “stuffed dates and preserved ginger.”
However, to Zora, the most important aspect of this meeting happened when the women, as if conducting a test, had her read from a magazine before lavishing her with gifts. The most important gift Zora received is a bunch of books. Over several paragraphs, Hurston explains how she learned to love literature. She says she met Hercules, Thor, Gulliver, and many other characters from classic literature. These books sparked her love of reading and eventually her writing.
No comments:
Post a Comment