logo

49 pages 1 hour read

Langston Hughes

The Ways of White Folks

Langston HughesFiction | Short Story Collection | Adult | Published in 1934

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Character Analysis

Cora Jenkins

A resident of Melton, Cora Jenkins earns her living working for the Studevant family. Her job is hard and demanding: “She was the Studevants’ maid of all work—washing, ironing, cooking, scrubbing, taking care of kids, nursing old folks, making fires, carrying water” (3). Despite the demanding nature of her job, Cora displays resilience and toughness. She started working for the Studevants to support her younger siblings and continues to work for them to support her aging parents. Over the course of “Cora Unashamed,” Cora works through years of mistreatment from the Studevants so that she can provide for her family. Cora is a resilient and strong female character, and when Story 1 concludes, Cora is jobless but still surviving and helping her family. She has proven herself to be tough, resourceful, and loving. Her bittersweet ending shows that doing the right thing can have consequences, but that resilience and love are attributes worth striving for.

Cora also believes in kindness. She values love over adhering to societal norms. She helps raise Jessie Studevant with kindness and tenderness, more so than the Studevant family does. When Jessie plans to go to college, Cora mourns: “In her heart she had adopted Jessie. In that big and careless household it was always Cora who stood like a calm and sheltering tree for Jessie to run to in her troubles” (9).

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 49 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,450+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools