Zora Neale Hurston Diction Analysis

The very essence of childhood is never forgotten. A memory, a scent, a certain feeling will never be lost in time, as the child transforms from the younger years of bliss to an older life of enduring hardships and burdens. Yet with his aging, memories are still alive in everyone. Many of the memories etched in the brain forever are caused by a parent or parents in the way they choose to raise their young sometimes creating a negative memory and also creating very positive, pleasant memories. Torn between the beliefs of two parents, Zora Neale Hurston is able to show both sides of childhood memories in her autobiography. Through diction and manipulation of point of view, Zora Neale Hurston conveys not only a plentiful and satisfying childhood within the bounds of her own childhood but also a sense of a childhood restricted by fears of the outside worlds and the fears that was apart of it.
With a mother so strong and supporting,
Hurston is able to use diction and point of view to entice readers with a sense of abundance and satisfaction within the walls of her own home. Throughout the entire passage, Hurston uses such words that constantly imply a life of ease and words that accentuate the mother's strong selfless spirit which in turn create the personality found in Zora. Starting off her autobiography she uses phrases such as, "we were never hungry" to enrich the sense of fulfillment. She had al she needed right in the comfort of her own home. All the food she ever needed was provided for her., the family even had more than they needed as shown through the quote, "any left-over eggs could always be used for missiles. Through the mother's point of view and reassuring words Zora is able to mature as a strong, proud girl. Zora's mother always believed in her, doubt was never apparent. Zora was praised by her mother at every chance she got. "Mama exhorted her children and every opportunity to ‘jump at de sun'". With praise from a mother, Zora always felt capable and proud, nothing could stand in her way. Though Zora's mother wanted the best for her, she was also very protective. "Once or twice a year we might get permission to go and play at some other house". Through the mother's eyes, the house was seen as a safe place. Noted in the quote above, Zora was rarely allowed out. Though she was kept in the boundaries of her own yard, she still found satisfaction is all she did.
Hurston uses diction and manipulation of point of view to display through the father a sense of a childhood restricted by fears of the outside world.
The diction in many of the quotes is used to imply the negative aspect of the world and a fear of the world outside. The father was scared for zora's life, "he predicted dire things for me". The word "dire" indicates actions with horrible outcomes or consequences. Zora's father fears that if she were to grow up proud, as her mother was teaching her, then a future of pain and hurt could be very well possible. The father used strong words in his predictions such as "I was going to be hung before I ever got grown" which exemplifies his viewpoint that with her proud outlook on life, she will go nowhere. The father viewed her proud ness as a harmful trait. He would do anything to get rid of this stubbornness she held within. Hurston negatively indicates that "he was always trying to break mine" referring to her spirit. If she would not change her mind set, then he was going to change it
himself.
There are three points of view that play a role in the childhood of Hurston, the mother, the father, and her own. With Zora and he mother having a seemingly coequal point of views are able to surround themselves with satisfaction and fulfillment. Completely paradoxical to the view points of Zora and her mother, the father creates a fearful atmosphere for Zora and trying for force her to fear the outside world all coming together to create the childhood life for Zora Neale Hurston.