Spunk

“Spunk” is a short story by Zora Neale Hurston published in 1925. Set in the rural Southern United States, “Spunk” follows the conflict that ensues when one man pursues another man’s wife. The story’s publication helped establish Hurston as a significant literary voice during the Harlem Renaissance. In 1989, George C. Wolfe adapted the story, along with content from two others by Hurston, into a play by the same name. Citations in this guide correspond with the 2020 anthology Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick published by Harper Collins.

At the outset of the story, a group of men in the general store of a small town watch in surprise as a “giant” man by the name of Spunk Banks walks down the street arm in arm with Lena Kanty, Joe Kanty’s wife. Elijah Mosely, one of the observers, expresses his admiration of Spunk, attesting that he is “skeered of nothin’” and cites his work at the sawmill as an example (55).

Moments after the couple passes out of sight, Joe, who is visibly distraught, enters the store and orders a sarsaparilla. With “mock gravity,” Elijah asks Joe about his wife, even though he knows Joe is aware of her situation.