Question

which statement from \john redding goes to sea\ best supports the idea that the author, zora neale hurston, was an independent woman who longed to escape her small hometown?

\pa, when ah gets as big as you ahm goin farther than them ships. ahm goin to where the sky touches the ground.\
\well, son, when ah wuz a boy ah said ah wuz goin too, but heah ah am. ah hopes you have bettah luck than me.\
\well, well, doan cry. ah thought youse uh grown up man. men doan cry lak babies. you mustnt take it too hard bout yo ships. you gotta git uster things gittin tied up...\
alfred reddings brown face grew wistful for a moment, and the child noticing it, asked quickly: \do weeds tangle up folks too, pa?\

Explanation:

Analyze the prompt's core question

The question asks which quote from Zora Neale Hurston's short story "John Redding Goes to Sea" best supports the idea that the author herself was an independent woman who longed to escape her small hometown. We need to connect the characters' sentiments to Hurston's biographical desire for independence and travel.

Evaluate the first option

Using the Textual Evidence Selection and Authorial Purpose knowledge points
The first quote is: "Pa, when ah gets as big as you Ah'm goin' farther than them ships. Ah'm goin' to where the sky touches the ground."

• This quote expresses a deep, imaginative longing to travel far beyond the immediate horizon ("farther than them ships") and escape the confines of the local environment.
• It directly mirrors Hurston's own lifelong desire to explore the world beyond her childhood home of Eatonville, Florida.

Evaluate the second option

The second quote is: "Well, son, when Ah wuz a boy Ah said Ah wuz goin' too, but heah Ah am. Ah hopes you have bettah luck than me."

• This quote expresses resignation and the failure to escape.
• It represents staying trapped in the hometown rather than the active, independent drive to escape.

Evaluate the third option

The third quote is: "Well, well, doan cry. Ah thought youse uh grown up man. Men doan cry lak babies. You mustn't take it too hard 'bout yo' ships. You gotta git uster things gittin' tied up..."

• This quote, spoken by John's mother, represents the domestic forces and traditional expectations trying to keep him tied down.
• It opposes the idea of independence and escape.

Evaluate the fourth option

The fourth quote is: "Alfred Redding's brown face grew wistful for a moment, and the child noticing it, asked quickly: 'Do weeds tangle up folks too, pa?'"

• This quote introduces the metaphor of being trapped ("weeds tangle up folks"), but it is a passive observation of being stuck rather than an active declaration of the desire to escape.
• Therefore, the first option remains the strongest representation of a longing to travel far and escape.

Answer:

• (A) "Pa, when ah gets as big as you Ah'm goin' farther than them ships. Ah'm goin' to where the sky touches the ground." (Correct answer)
• (B) "Well, son, when Ah wuz a boy Ah said Ah wuz goin' too, but heah Ah am. Ah hopes you have bettah luck than me."
• (C) "Well, well, doan cry. Ah thought youse uh grown up man. Men doan cry lak babies. You mustn't take it too hard 'bout yo' ships. You gotta git uster things gittin' tied up . . ."
• (D) Alfred Redding's brown face grew wistful for a moment, and the child noticing it, asked quickly: "Do weeds tangle up folks too, pa?"