Blog #3: Lust vs. Love

Zora Neale Hurston’s “The Gilded Six-Bits,” Edna St. Vincent Millay’s “I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed,” and Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress” all share the common theme of love versus lust in the relationships between men and women. Each writing portrays love and lust in different situations which leads into the roles men and women play in their relationships.

In Zora Neale Hurston’s “The Gilded Six-Bits” Joe and Missie May are truly in love with each other. Joe and Missie May both have compassion and respect for one another. Every Saturday when Joe comes home from work Missie May and he play a game. Missie May chases him around the house to see what he has brought for her. It is usually the molasses kisses that she loves. The story gives the reader the impression that Missie May wants the molasses kisses that Joe has in his pockets. However, what she truly wants is her husband, in a physical perspective. The two are already connected emotionally. Joe brings up in conversation Otis Slemmons, a seemed to be wealthy ice cream parlor owner who wears fine clothes, both gold chains and watches, as well as possessing gold coins and gold teeth. Joe expresses his yearning to be able to provide all of these riches to his wife. He yearns to be like Mr. Slemmons because he believes that it will satisfy all of his wife’s wants. What Joe does not understand is that what Missie May wants is him, just the way he is. In order to satisfy her husband’s wants, Missie May sleeps with Mr. Slemmons because he promises to give her some of his riches. It is at this point that lust over powers love. Joe comes home from work one night to find Mr. Slemmons in his bedroom with his wife. He beats Mr. Slemmons, kicks him out of his home, and manages to swipe a piece of his gold. It turns out that Mr. Slemmons is a fake and what he considered to be his riches was gilded gold. To punish Missie May, Joe stays with her, however, he ignores her. For this short while, Joe loses compassion and respect for his wife. Joe’s anger is overcome with the love he has for his wife when their son is born. The birth of their son mended the pieces of their marriage back together. When one is truly in love they are able to forgive those that hurt them in the worst way.

Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress” is based on both the physical and emotional love that the speaker has for his mistress. The speaker is trying to convince his mistress that life is too short. Therefore, they must live life and be adventurous while they are here on earth. They must take advantage of every opportunity that they are given. He promises her the strong love he has for in hopes that she in return will give up her virginity to him. The speaker tells her that once they become immortal they will no longer be able to go back and get what they once could have had. However, we must think of another perspective such as in “The Gilded Six-Bits.” If the speaker had the opportunity to live a wealthy and prominent life would he chose lust over love?

Edna St. Vincent Millay’s “I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed” portrays the physical perspective of love. In the beginning of the poem the woman is physically attracted to the man as stated in lines 3-4 “Am urged by your propinquity to find your person fair, and feel a certain zest.” However, towards the end of the poem the tone changes. The woman discovers that she must follow what her head is telling her and not her heart. She realizes that she cannot be with this man for the sole reason of her rushing hormones. The woman realizes that this man is clouding her mind and realizes she needs a way out of this relationship. There is proof of this in line 8 which states “And leave me once again undone, possessed.” The woman needs a man who respects and adores her. Throughout the beginning of this poem the woman puts lust above love for the physical connection she feels with this man. However, towards the end of the poem she comes to her senses that tell her to follow her head. It is here that love overcomes lust.

Each of the three relationships we have analyzed are based on different circumstances. A real relationship is one that is based on true love, respect and adoration for one another. Eventually as we become more aware of who we are as a person and what we want in life we realize that love over powers lust in the long run.