Summary

“Drenched in Light,” Hurston’s third publication in 1924, began with 11-year-old Isis Watts shirking her chores. Rather than raking the yard, she sat on the gatepost and greeted those who passed. Much to the dismay of her grandmother, she rode on horseback with frequent passers-by, played outside, whistled, and slumped in her chair. As the only girl of the family, Isis was forced to wash the dishes, but played with the dogs intermittently. After losing herself in imagination, Isis resolved to shave the whiskers off her sleeping grandmother’s chin. Her brother helped, but woke Grandma with the lather. While Isis was hiding from her punishment, she heard a band passing by. Quickly, Isis used Grandma’s new tablecloth as a shawl and danced for the crowd. When Grandma found her, Isis ran dramatically to a river, childishly hoping for...