I do not weep at the world- I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife”?

I understand this quote, but I was just wonder if the second part about the Oyster knife meant anything? I was not sure what she meant by that part. This quote is by Zora Neale Hurston.

7 Answers

  • Jazka
    1 month ago

    There’s a saying, “the world is your oyster”.

    And inside an oyster shell is a pearl.

    This quote could be a reference to that, in the sense that, instead of sitting around, Hurston chooses to seek out the pearl in her oyster.

  • Donny L
    6 days ago

    The narrator is alluding to “the good life.” That is, “the world is [her] oyster.” In fact, life has so much to offer that it would be asinine for one to sit around and “bellyache” about the difficulties that he or she may be experiencing. Instead, one should seek to make one s life better by focusing and working hard to get what one desires. Which, in turn, he or she may reap the rewards for such persistence. Thus, the pearls of life are enjoyed by those who has the patience to sharpen an oyster knife, which makes the fruits of the oyster valuable in many ways such as: food for one s body, which leads to nourishment, spoils, which leads to wealth and prosperity, and self-worth.

    I hope this helps.

  • Jo
    5 days ago

    She’s referring to another quote, “the world is your oyster” (you are in a position to take the opportunities that life has to offer)- so she’s sharpening her knife to dig in to the bigger picture – the world!

  • irishlady
    1 month ago

    To me she means that she’s doing something positive (Oyster knife) & not just sitting around moping & doing nothing at all it’s like Actions speak louder than words

  • austin23cook
    1 month ago

    i think she means that the world is too big to care individually about and even something as primitive and mundane as sharpening an oyster knife is more productive

  • ?
    4 days ago

    Oyster Knife Definition

  • Anonymous
    5 days ago

    I agree with most of what’s been answered

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