The Gilded Six Bits

by

Zora Neale Hurston

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Otis D. Slemmons Character Analysis

Slemmons is a newcomer to Eatonville and the owner of an ice cream parlor. His origin is uncertain; Joe says that Slemmons is “of spots and places—Memphis, Chicago, Jacksonville, Philadelphia and so on.” He is primarily described through the eyes of other characters. He is said to be heavy-set with a mouth full of gold teeth, and he wears fine clothing—traits which set him apart from the other residents of Eatonville. Slemmons claims that women are attracted to him wherever he goes. He wears what appear to be a five-dollar gold piece for a stick-pin and a ten-dollar gold piece on his watch chain, which no one is allowed to touch. He walks with a “rolling swagger” and speaks in a Chicago dialect. Slemmons finds Missie May attractive and successfully pursues her with offers of gold. At the story’s climax, when Joe discovers their adultery, Slemmons pleads for his life and offers more money. Joe strikes him twice and seizes the golden watch charm. Slemmons is last seen fleeing the Banks’ house, though the Bankses discover that his watch charm was nothing but a gilded half dollar. He had been deceiving everyone all along.

Otis D. Slemmons Quotes in The Gilded Six Bits

The The Gilded Six Bits quotes below are all either spoken by Otis D. Slemmons or refer to Otis D. Slemmons. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Domesticity and Routine Theme Icon
).
The Gilded Six-Bits Quotes

A new man done come heah from Chicago and he done got a place and took and opened it up for a ice cream parlor.... Mister Otis D. Slemmons, of spots and places—Memphis, Chicago, Jacksonville, Philadelphia and so on.

Related Characters: Joe Banks (speaker), Missie May Banks, Otis D. Slemmons
Page Number: 89
Explanation and Analysis:

“His mouf is cut cross-ways, ain’t it? Well, he kin lie jes’ lak anybody else.”

“Good Lawd, Missie! You womens sho is hard to sense into things. He’s got a five-dollar gold piece for a stick-pin and he got a ten-dollar gold piece on his watch chain and his mouf is jes’ crammed full of gold teethes…And womens give it all to ‘im.”

Related Characters: Missie May Banks (speaker), Joe Banks (speaker), Otis D. Slemmons
Related Symbols: Otis Slemmons’ “Gold”
Page Number: 90
Explanation and Analysis:

By the match light he could see the man’s legs fighting with his breeches in his frantic desire to get them on. He had both chance and time to kill the intruder in his helpless condition…but he was too weak to take action. The shapeless enemies of humanity that live in the hours of Time had waylaid Joe. He was assaulted in his weakness. Like Samson awakening after his haircut. So he just opened his mouth and laughed.

Related Characters: Joe Banks, Otis D. Slemmons
Page Number: 93
Explanation and Analysis:

Before morning, youth triumphed and Missie exulted. But the next day, as she joyfully made up their bed, beneath her pillow she found the piece of money with the bit of chain attached…She took it into her hands with trembling and saw first thing that it was no gold piece. It was a gilded half dollar.

Related Characters: Missie May Banks, Joe Banks, Otis D. Slemmons
Related Symbols: Otis Slemmons’ “Gold”
Page Number: 95
Explanation and Analysis:
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The Gilded Six Bits PDF

Otis D. Slemmons Quotes in The Gilded Six Bits

The The Gilded Six Bits quotes below are all either spoken by Otis D. Slemmons or refer to Otis D. Slemmons. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Domesticity and Routine Theme Icon
).
The Gilded Six-Bits Quotes

A new man done come heah from Chicago and he done got a place and took and opened it up for a ice cream parlor.... Mister Otis D. Slemmons, of spots and places—Memphis, Chicago, Jacksonville, Philadelphia and so on.

Related Characters: Joe Banks (speaker), Missie May Banks, Otis D. Slemmons
Page Number: 89
Explanation and Analysis:

“His mouf is cut cross-ways, ain’t it? Well, he kin lie jes’ lak anybody else.”

“Good Lawd, Missie! You womens sho is hard to sense into things. He’s got a five-dollar gold piece for a stick-pin and he got a ten-dollar gold piece on his watch chain and his mouf is jes’ crammed full of gold teethes…And womens give it all to ‘im.”

Related Characters: Missie May Banks (speaker), Joe Banks (speaker), Otis D. Slemmons
Related Symbols: Otis Slemmons’ “Gold”
Page Number: 90
Explanation and Analysis:

By the match light he could see the man’s legs fighting with his breeches in his frantic desire to get them on. He had both chance and time to kill the intruder in his helpless condition…but he was too weak to take action. The shapeless enemies of humanity that live in the hours of Time had waylaid Joe. He was assaulted in his weakness. Like Samson awakening after his haircut. So he just opened his mouth and laughed.

Related Characters: Joe Banks, Otis D. Slemmons
Page Number: 93
Explanation and Analysis:

Before morning, youth triumphed and Missie exulted. But the next day, as she joyfully made up their bed, beneath her pillow she found the piece of money with the bit of chain attached…She took it into her hands with trembling and saw first thing that it was no gold piece. It was a gilded half dollar.

Related Characters: Missie May Banks, Joe Banks, Otis D. Slemmons
Related Symbols: Otis Slemmons’ “Gold”
Page Number: 95
Explanation and Analysis: