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Zora Neale Hurston Diction Analysis

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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, …show more content…
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
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