In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston uses imagery to show how going anywhere in life keeps being unobtainable to Janie due to her position as a black woman. “She had glossy leaves and bursting buds and she wanted to struggle with life but it seemed to elude her” (Hurston 11). This descriptive imagery helps one to picture how there is no opportunity for Janie to develop outside of this gorgeous backyard. She is stuck with her desires and has nowhere to accomplish them. “One of the pivotal
Not to Speak In the novel "Their Eyes were Watching God," the main character, Janie, faces an inner battle in her three marriages, to speak or not to speak, which manifests itself differently with Logan, Joe, and Tea Cake. In her first marriage to Logan Killicks, Janie has her idea of what a marriage should look like shattered, as she failed to fall into the romantic idea of love that she held dear (Myth and Violence in Zora Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God). In her second marriage, to Joe
Janie Crawford: An Emergent Woman In Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, “Their Eyes Were Watching God”, a young Janie searches for true love during a time where love is scarce. The story is set around the late 1930’s, where women were expected to dress and act a certain way, while following their husbands every word. At a young age, Janie is exposed to the idea of sex and love, and how they connect to one another. She came to the conclusion that if there was intimacy with a man, then he loved her. Janie
Published in 1937 by author Zora Neale Hurston, the novel ‘Their Eyes Were Watching God’ chronicles an African American woman's journey to find true love in the Deep South. On one hand, an equal balance of power in a relationship leads to equality, fulfilment, and happiness for both partners - as observed in Janie’s relationship with Vergible Woods (Tea Cake). On the other hand, an unequal distribution of power in a marriage with a dominant partner leads to an overall sense of discontent and unhappiness
Their Eyes Were Watching God is a southern love story portrayed by a charming women who refused to live her life in fear, bitterness, and sorrow. Zora Neale Hurston explains how difficult it was to live during the early 1900’s, especially for a fair-skinned individual, like Janie CrawFord. The story unravels in West Florida and explains how Janie Crawford evolved throughout her three marriages. This piece of African American literature highlights the daily struggles of poverty and purpose. The genre
Hurston’s esteemed novel Their Eyes Were Watching God Nanny Crawford says, “De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah can see.” When I read this bold statement in my 11th grade literature class it struck me. I carried these words with me for a long time contemplating their meaning. Does this comparison of black women to a lowly animal such as a mule hold true? It certainly did in the early twentieth century time period of the novel in which black women were nothing more than the property
Similarities and Differences between Janie and Mrs. Mallard Susan B. Anthony once said there is not a women born who desires to eat the bread of dependence. In the novel Their eyes were watching god by Zora Neal Hurston, Janie Crawford depicts the life of a young African women who struggles with male dominance. As well for Mrs. Mallard in The story of an hour by Kate Chopin. Both of these women become independent, share experiences with male dominance and share an appealing perspective toward nature
"American South" (or "Southern United States")? Whenever someone mentions the Southern United States, I instantly think of massive plantation homes painted white with tall columns surrounded by tall Spanish moss trees. I think of the book Their Eyes Were Watching God, as I always try to imagine what it would be like for Janie to go through a hurricane deep in the Glades. I even think of the scene from the movie “Forrest Gump” where Forrest breaks free of his leg braces while running, in particular. However
The title, Their Eyes Were Watching God, symbolizes the omnipotence of the God, who controls the fate of Janie, highlighting the irrelevance of people’s free will, especially African Americans. It’s indicated that the life of Janie from companionship with Joe to that with Tea Cake is all determined by the God. However, “watching God,” an attitude of Janie, contrasts with the main conformity of African American perspective. The cryptic title parallels the life track of Janie in the whole story. Literally
black communities across the world. When the abolishment of slavery was adapted into the U.S constitution, rage was amplified across the nation in the hearts of the white folk. They were now expected to coexist with African Americans and yet the notion of inequality was still very present. In Their Eyes Were Watching God Janie certainly experiences being oppressed by white and black people especially because both races are part of her heritage. She grows up under the assumption she is not good enough