Zora Neale Hurston has created two characters who have different kinds of courage, so deciding on their relative degree will depend on the reader’s perspective.
The sort of bravery that Spunk displays can be called bravado. On the outside, he not only seems fearless, but he uses that impression to manipulate other people. While he earns at work respect for his willingness to take on hazardous jobs, his reputation and the gun he carries mostly instill fear in other people.
In contrast, Joe seems anything but brave through most of the story. His anxiety and fear hold him back from challenging the larger, bolder man. The fear proves justified when Spunk shoots him dead. Because Joe’s personality is introverted and he had little experience with violence, he had to summon up considerable courage to take on such an opponent. Meanwhile, Spunk’s inner fears surface at the end, when his superstitious nature is revealed.
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