There are many themes present in the short story, “The Gilded Six-Bits.” I think that one of the major themes Hurston touches upon is the superficiality of our society. It is so easy to get caught up in material objects that you forget what is morally acceptable and okay to do. Missie May gets caught up in the lies of Slemmons and all the riches he (supposedly) possesses. The opening of this story shows the loving relationship of Missie and Joe, their routine playful games, their sweet and loving flirtation. They were a couple very much in love and cared greatly for each other. This background is necessary to understand the superficiality of society. Most people would be envious of their love. People long for love and search high and low to find what Missie and Joe have. They may not have many riches and possessions, but they have their genuine love for one another.

That was not enough for Missie. Once she heard about the gold Slemmons had, she became envious. She wanted objects, she wanted things, she wanted the gold. All of her desire for material possessions led her to ignore her vows to her husband, vows of love and fidelity until death. Are greed, envy, and desire really that powerful to overtake a person? Are they that powerful to risk your marriage? Are they so powerful as to degrade and devalue yourself to the likings of a prostitute?

All three works touch upon the role of women. The poem, “I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed,” raises the question of what that role actually is. Is a woman supposed to be at the mercy of a man? She is “distressed” because she is the submissive gender. In the other poem, “To His Coy Mistress,” we are told of a young lady who has her lover at her mercy, for she is denying him of his sexual advances. This coy mistress, is coy because she is able to hold onto her values—one being her virginity, while at the same time, keep her lover much intrigued. On the other hand, Missie May has to give that up to get what she wants.