Masks of Passivity: Hoodoo And Voodoo in the Works of Hurston, Twain, and Cable

ABSTRACT\ud MASKS OF PASSIVITY: HOODOO AND VOODOO IN THE\ud WORKS OF HURSTON, TWAIN, AND CABLE\ud by\ud Amanda Blair Runyan\ud Master of Arts in English\ud California State University, Chico\ud Spring 2009\ud This thesis addresses the texts Mules and Men (1935) by Zora Neale Hurston,\ud The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) by Mark Twain and The Grandissimes\ud (1880) by George Washington Cable to define and demonstrate the practice of voodoo in\ud American literature of the south. Along with defining the terminology of hoodoo and\ud voodoo, this thesis shows the power of voodoo to be female, black and subversive power\ud demonstrated through verbal negotiations, and set up in opposition to institutional power\ud that is overt, white and male. Chapter One identifies the terminology and practice of\ud hoodoo, while uncovering the values of black and female power in Zora Neale Hurston=s\ud Mules and Men. Chapter Two recognizes Jim of Mark Twain=s The Adventures of\ud Huckleberry Finn as using indirect claims to power through his performances of the\ud supernatural, identifying both the technique of masking as well as the practice of voodoo\ud vii\ud in the narrative. Chapter Three uncovers the voodoo in the verbal manipulations of\ud Aurore De Grappion in George Washington Cable=s The Grandissimes as well as\ud subverting the model of voodoo=s power by demonstrating the ability of Aurore, a white\ud woman, to succeed in a traditionally African American practice. These negotiations allow\ud characters to challenge their place in society and achieve physical, economic and\ud intellectual mobility despite their position outside of patriarchal societal structures.CSU, Chic