Like a Winding Sheet

“You look like a huckleberry—in a winding sheet.”

This quote is spoken by Mae before the couple leaves for work. The quote reflects the story’s title, and contains a simile (“like a huckleberry”) to characterize their relationship dynamic amid their socioeconomic context. Other than a blueberry, a “huckleberry” has several meanings: a person of little consequence or a romantic sweetheart. These meanings reflect Johnson’s Intention Versus Emotion in his relationship: He means a lot to Mae, but is treated like nothing when he leaves his home, and this contrast underscores the way he intends to treat Mae well but is provoked by his position in society to enact violence. This quote is critical to the story because it introduces a repeated image (the winding sheet), which represents death and grief.

“Why it’s Friday the thirteenth.”

This quote, also spoken by Mae, contains foreshadowing and an ironic prediction of potentially negative things to come. It points to Mae’s docile, careful nature, which is in direct contrast to Johnson’s unpredictable, impulsive nature that is exposed as the story goes on. Though Mae is the one concerned about Friday the 13th and