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