A Summer Tragedy

How do societal expectations of gender affect Jeff and Jennie’s attitudes toward their suicide pact? How might the outcome of the story differ if Jeff felt more empowered to express his fears and doubts?

Despite the harsh conditions and exploitative nature of share farming, Jeff paradoxically feels an “unexplained affection” for the acres that he has farmed. Using context clues from the story, how might you explain this feeling?

Throughout the story, there are references to superstition and folk magic. Jeff believes that the frizzly chickens in the yard protect “against conjure and bad luck and spells” (351). On the other hand, Jennie views Delia’s ways with men as “dark and suspicious” (353). How do these moments provide a more complex understanding of Southern Black Creole culture?