Their Eyes Were Watching God Character Analysis

In Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, symbols are implemented to help the readers Identify and understand the leitmotif of the novel. One commonly found symbol is Janie’s hair, which represents her personality, individuality, and character. The state of her hair changes as the novel progresses and Jamie goes through different stages of life, struggling to find true love. Using Jamie’s hair to express her feelings and emotions throughout the novel, Hurston highlights the theme that finding true love and happiness requires one to be free and adventurous in life without letting any obstacles or events alter one’s character.

Richard Wright and Alain Locke’s critique on Zora Neale Hurston’s novel Their Eyes Were Watching God reveal the common notion held by many of the time, and still today, that there is a right and wrong way for a black person to talk and to act. Wright’s point of view of clearly racially charged and coming from a place of ignorance and intolerance. While, Locke’s point is simply due to a lack of an ability to think out of the box and observe deeper meaning, perhaps due to internalized oppression and a fearful desire to talk and act just like a white man in order to be taken seriously. Wright’s argument that the novel has no central theme and is parallel to minstrel shows, and Locke’s belief that Hurston uses relatable language to avoid diving into mature writing, are inherently wrong and fueled by the very issues Hurston was trying to combat: racism and sexism.

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 in the relationship, as observed in Janie’s first two marriages to Logan Killicks and Joe Starks respectively. Thus, an equal balance of power in a relationship built on mutual respect and desire is a vital to a stable and healthy relationship.

In many novels, authors have implemented social constructs in order to shape the mood of the books. In Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, Hurston alludes to social class, especially race, subtly. Hurston’s background of anthropology and growing up as an African-American woman clearly plays a role in the social makeup of the novel. The main character of the novel, Janie, has various experiences in which readers can discover the social structures in her life. Through Janie’s story of self-discovery, Hurston reveals social constructs of the time, especially race and wealth, by including anecdotes, complex characters, and thought-provoking scenes that highlight controversial issues.

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. They also have distinctive outcomes in their lives. Janie and Mrs. Mallard share similarities in their lives and distinctions as well.

Battles and fights are some examples of conflict in most fictional stories. They can be many different fights, like the epic battle between good and evil, or a kingdom defending their land from enemies. When people think of the word ‘battle’, they may think of climatic sword fights and war. But sometimes, battles can take place inside of a person. Perhaps a character may have conflicting aspirations and desires that may cause an internal battle and maybe result in something catastrophic. Or perhaps a character has opposing personalities that might clash and cause something important to happen. In many works of literature, the writer

The author immediately introduces the female perspective. In “Their Eyes Were Watching God”, Hurston celebrates Janie as an artist that enriches Eatonville and details her self-discovery. Without delay, on first page of the book, Hurston substantiates the contrast between men and women by initiating Janie's quest to reach fruition of her own dreams and presaging the female quest theme throughout the remainder of the novel. "Now, women forget all those things they don't want to remember, and remember everything they don't want to forget. The dream is the truth. Then they act and do things

In Zora Neale 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 of white men. However, despite all the milestones and barriers African American women have broken since then, to an extent Nanny’s words hold true even in today’s society. Women of color still remain objects of exploitation and misrepresentation. As an African American woman, I would use my time enrolled in Grady College to prepare and mold myself into a positive representation of black women in mainstream media.

Within the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God the main character Janie Crawford came into many relationships throughout her life, but three of those many made a drastic change in her life. With her first marriage to Mr. Logan Killicks which was not a man she wanted to marry at such a young age. Her second marriage being to Mr. Joe Starks, who she loved. Although their love was soon to run short. Her last and most unforgotten marriage was to Mr. Vergible Woods also known as Tea Cake.

Zora Neale Hurston's Their eyes were watching God, follows the lives of young Janie Crawford, the antagonist of the novel with a mixed black and white descent around the turn of the century, Janie returns home after being away for a long time. Her journey for love begins with her first husband named Logan Killicks, an older potato farmer who her grandmother thought was to bring security to Janie. Janie sees him as a desecration of vision of true love, Logan gives very little intimate sensibility , his stint of characterization is applicable given the destitution and desperation he epitomized to janie. Joe Starks also known as Jody is

I read Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, copyright in 1937 and has a total of 193 pages.

The Power of God Humankind has no choice in the end, and all of us are forced to live with a predetermined future. Whether if you agree with this or not, in the american classic Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston humanity is forced to accept this idea. Man kind can do nothing against the power of god, and no matter what else happens, God always has the final say in the end. God is a representation of nature, and is also a representation of all things that man cannot control. The first example is Sam and walter are talking about caution versus nature “Naw it ait, it’s nature, cause nature makes caution.

In the novel of “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Hurston, exhibits a various of characteristics throughout the novel. The author reveals each unique character that have personalities distinct from one another. The two dramatic foils that I will showcase are Joe Starks and Logan Killicks to reveal and highlight the traits of Tea Cake. These characters shows how their traits can reveal the other's characteristics throughout their differences. The message that associates and conveys with these characters is how personalities and traits can reveal the perception of how one views gender and status.

“Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone. Dawn and doom was in the branches” (Hurston, 6). Human life is a mixture of ups and downs and often the extent of these circumstances rely on the responses of those involved throughout the event. Voicing an opinion strongly and effectively can directly impact the outcome of a situation. Moreover, the articulation of an opinion depends not only on the internal confidence of a person, but also on the external factors, such as the context and background of the situation.

occurrences. This emphasis of the past works to develop a valid statement: Actions and inequities of the past can have a lasting effect on one’s future. However, the purpose is not geared toward not dwelling in the past, but more so learning from the past. This is what separates the presence of the past in traditional American literary pieces, and the function of the past in African American literature.