Zora Neale Hurston was a famous African American writer in the late 1800s and early 1900s. She was well known for using the southern African American dialect in much of her work, including this piece, emphasizing southern rural culture. This story is of a woman who overcomes the trials of her husband making efforts to get rid of her, and in the end, he receives his due justice for his crimes against her. This selection is targeted towards 12th grade readers, or any students studying Hurston's work.