Examples Of Unequal Sharing In Their Eyes Were Watching God

Unequal Sharing of Power Many people see unequal sharing of power as a breaking point in a relationship. In the 21st century, this is the main reason relationships end, but Zora Neale Hurson’s book, Their Eyes Were Watching God, shadows a different perspective. The book is set in the 20th century, and views men as superior to women, leading to the unequal sharing of power. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston explores the tension of male supremacy through the relationship between, Joe (Jody) Starks and Janie Crawford. Janie's desires for her independence and freedom versus Jody's need to control Janie’s freedom and independence to show his dominance, overall impacting Janie's self-confidence and character development. Hurston highlights

Although she hopes this, she didn’t attain this with her first husband, Logan Killicks, nor did she attain this with her second husband, Jody Starks. Janie displays her thoughts, “She knew now that marriage did not make love. Janie’s first dream was dead, so she became a woman” (25). Janie’s only desire was to be loved, but she did get that with Logan. Janie lost her dream to be loved and becomes an adult at an early age. She later tries to find hope with Jody. Along with love, Jaine also seeks independence. Janie would make attempts to seek her independence, “Time came when she fought back with her tongue as best as she could, but it didn’t do her any good. It just made matters worse”(71). Jaine is always suppressed by Jody any time she makes attempts to speak. This leads Janie to lose her self-confidence within herself. Jaine was left in remorse with the toxicity of their

“Jaine, if you think Ah aims to tole you off and make a god outa you, youse wrong. Ah wants to make a wife outa you,” says Jody, knowing he only wants Janie for her looks (29). Jody displays an act of respecting Janie at the beginning of the book, but his act doesn’t last very long. His desire for Janie was only until her looks, nothing beyond that. He would never let Janie act on her own, and always disregarded the things Janie wants to do, “Thank yuh fuh yo’ compliments, but mah wife don’t know nothin’ ‘bout no speech-makin’. Ah never married her for nothin’ lak dat. She’s uh woman and her place is in de home” (43). His views for Janie are to be a housewife and to limit Janie’s independence. Jody always made decisions for Janie without asking her, and he didn’t value her interests/wants. Jody has a role installed in his mind, which didn’t align with Janie’s