Why the Waves Have Whitecaps
Author: Zora Neale Hurston
Characters: Mrs. Wind, Mrs. Water and chilluns.
Exposition: Mrs. Wind and Water enjoy having talk like any other women. They used to brag about their chilluns, but Mrs. Wind bragged louder and that annoyed Mrs. Water.
Climax: One day Mrs. Wind chilluns were thirsty, so they went to Mrs. Water to have a drink, but she hated them, so she drowned them all.
Resolution: Mrs. Wind asked Mrs. Water if she had seen her chilluns, and Mrs. Wind knew they went down to have a cool drink, but Mrs. Water lied and said she never saw them. Now feathers come up whenever Mrs. Wind calls her lost chillun; and when there’s a storm, it’s because the two ladies are fighting.
New Resolution: Mrs. Water didn’t realize that the chilluns she actually drowned were hers. Ever since then when there’s a storm, it means she is crying for them and that she learned a lesson.
Conflict:
Man vs Self: Mrs. Water hated the chilluns or basically was jealous of Mrs. Wind.
Man vs Man: Mrs. Wind and Water still fight over the chillun.
Man vs Society: The chillun were drowned by Mrs. Water.
Man vs Nature: Every time there’s a storm, it means that the two ladies are fighting.
Theme: Do not covet the good of others, it’ll bring its consequences
Tone: Honest, kind, jealous, and a little dark.
Voice: Omnipresent narrator
Mood: Interesting, confusing and reflective.
Questions:
What do you understand as Chilluns?
Why did Mrs. Water drown Mrs. Wind Chilluns? Do you think it was justified?
With what can we relate the two ladies?
What happens when Mrs. Wind calls her missing Chilluns?
Why did Mrs. Wind say that her Chilluns were better than the one from Mrs. Water?
By Ana Lucía Álvarez T., Step 8 Yellow
