Spunk

“But that’s one thing Ah likes about Spunk Banks—he ain’t skeered of nothin’ on God’s green footstool—nothin’!” 

Elijah’s admiration of Spunk is rooted in Spunk’s apparent lack of fear in multiple situations, including his work at the sawmill and his pursuit of Lena. Most of the men in the store agree with Elijah’s assessment of Spunk, indicating that Elijah represents the received or popular opinion. His simple admiration of Spunk is eventually undermined both by Spunk’s growing fear of Joe, whom he believes to be haunting him, and by Walter’s alternative conception of bravery.

“One could actually see the pain he was suffering, his eyes, his face, his hands and even the dejected slump of his shoulders.”

Here and elsewhere, Hurston draws attention to bodily manifestations of Joe’s fear. Beyond simply inviting sympathy, these details provide context for his actions, including his choice to attack Spunk, who is stronger and better armed. The inclusion of such details allows readers to decide for themselves the truth of Walter’s claim that context matters in assessing bravery.

“Talkin’ like a man, Joe. Course that’s yo’ fambly affairs, but Ah like to see grit in anybody.”

Elijah’s hypocrisy resurfaces in this comment he makes to Joe. While admitting that Joe’s actions are his own private affair, Elijah also interferes in those affairs, pressuring Joe to confront Spunk. Elijah’s insistence that he admires “grit” wherever he sees it is also disingenuous, given his previously stated admiration of Spunk and his belittling of Joe. Elijah even ties Joe’s behavior to his masculinity, increasing a sense of peer pressure by appealing to a stereotype.

“Ah like him fine but tain’t right the way he carries on wid Lena Kanty, jus’ cause Joe’s timid ’bout fightin’.”

Whereas Elijah is unrestrained in his praise of Spunk, Walter objects to the way Spunk uses his strength to take what he wants. Here and earlier, when he chides Elijah for mocking Joe, Walter acts as something of a conscience for the group. He is not so concerned with norms surrounding marriage as he is with abuses of power and influence.

“’Tain’t cause Joe’s timid at all, it’s cause Spunk wants Lena. If Joe was a passle of wile cats Spunk would tackle the job just the same. He’d go after anything he wanted the same way.” 

Elijah suggests that Spunk didn’t pursue Lena because of Joe’s weakness but simply to satiate his own desires. He initially admires this quality in Spunk but later appears shaken at the heavy consequences of Joe and Spunk’s no-holds-barred conflict. As he discovers, Spunk’s attitude cannot provide the basis for a peaceful society. The phrase “passle of wile cats” is an example of Hurston’s attention to idiomatic expressions and pronunciation.

“Lena, youse mine. From now on Ah works for you an’ fights for you an’ Ah never wants you to look to nobody for a crumb of bread, a stitch of close or a shingle to go over yo’ head, but me long as Ah live.”

Spunk and Joe compete for the affections of Lena, but Spunk takes it a step further by claiming ownership over her according to traditional patriarchal norms. At the time, society often viewed women’s value primarily in terms of marital prospects. Though Spunk presents his offer as a generous one, he defines the terms of their relationship unilaterally and claims full authority over Lena’s actions.

“Ah bet he’s wore out half a dozen Adam’s apples since Spunk’s been on the job with Lena. That’s all he’ll do.” 

Joe’s obvious agitation makes him a humorous target for the men in the store. Their laughter places them at a distance from Joe, preventing them from empathizing with him or taking him seriously. Here, Elijah’s misplaced confidence that Joe will give up on his purpose reveals not only Elijah’s poor judgment but also his condescending attitude.

“He’s a dirty coward, jumpin’ on a man from behind.” 

Spunk offers his own interpretation of bravery. To him, Joe is a coward because he doesn’t attack him face to face. This accords with traditional, chivalric codes of behavior, aligning Spunk’s view of courage with Elijah’s outlook. The incident also contrasts with the subsequent appearance of the black bobcat that Spunk takes to be a reincarnation of Joe, which looks him directly in the face.

“At the general store later on, they all talked of locking him up until the sheriff could come from Orlando, but no one did anything but talk.” 

The men in the store initially fault Joe for talking about Spunk without (up to that point) acting against him. Their indecision and inaction following Joe’s death proves they are no braver than Joe. Their belief in the primacy of action over talk remains valid, but they fail the test themselves.

“Joe wuz skeered of Spunk, skeered plumb stiff! But he went jes’ the same. It took him a long time to get his nerve up. ’Tain’t nothin’ for Spunk to fight when he ain’t skeered of nothin’.” 

Elsewhere, Elijah comments that he admires Spunk for passionately going after whatever he wants. As Walter realizes and points out in this quote, Joe faces greater risks and worse odds than Spunk, but he carries on anyway, proving that he has deeper passion and resolve. By contrast, when Spunk, who is rarely, if ever, frightened, begins to suspect that Joe has returned to haunt him, he falters, showing his lack of courage.

“Tell yuh the truth, Ah’m a lil bit skittish. Spunk died too wicket—died cussin’ he did. You know he thought he wuz done outa life.”

Superstition shapes Spunk, Walter, and Elijah’s perceptions. As is often the case, these characters’ supernatural fears are tied to moral beliefs, which explains the significance that Elijah attaches to the manner of Spunk’s death in this quote. Whether or not Spunk could escape the legal and social consequences for his actions, he and others perceived the possibility of a supernatural comeuppance.

“I’m skeered of dat man when he gits hot. He’d beat you full of button holes as quick as he’s look atcher.” 

One of the men in the store confesses that he fears Spunk’s violent temperament. Whereas Joe takes a long time to come to the decision to attack Spunk, Spunk responds instinctively to kill Joe in a second. This quote represents one man’s realization that Spunk’s aggressive tendencies and the macho persona that accompanies them are not so admirable as he and the others previously assumed.

“If spirits kin fight, there’s a powerful tussle goin’ on somewhere ovah Jordan ’cause Ah b’leeve Joe’s ready for Spunk an’ ain’t skeered any more—yas, Ah b’leeve Joe pushed ’im mahself.”

Walter’s interpretation of events casts Joe as overcoming his fears. His journey contrasts with that of Spunk, who starts out unafraid but gradually succumbs to panic. Even setting aside Walter’s expectations related to the afterlife, Joe’s death in a moment of valiant effort contrasts with Spunk’s increasing paranoia leading up to his death. Walter’s religious beliefs enable him to derive meaning from these events and to share it with others.