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Theme Of Silence In Their Eyes Were Watching God

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Zora Neale Hurston uses the term “silence” to represent powerlessness and strife in Their Eyes Were Watching God, especially in the character of Janie. Janie’s first two husbands didn’t attempt to understand their wife as a person, alternatively choosing to see her as a labor source or an object to be won. These men silenced her personal dreams and desires, keeping the power in the relationship for themselves. Tea Cake, in contrast, gets to know Janie on a personal level; he learns about her own hopes and aspirations. The power in their relationship remains evenly split. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston reveals that being silenced results in a loss of power. Janie’s first husband, Logan, tells her to be quiet, limiting her power in the relationship. Janie and Logan discuss their relationship in bed together. When Janie suggests that she could leave him, Logan doesn’t even address the idea. He shuts it down immediately. Logan scoffs and demands, “Let’s don’t talk no mo’” (Hurston 30). Logan …show more content…

When Janie and Tea Cake open their house to their new friends in the Everglades, Janie compares her life now to her life in Eatonville with Joe. She notices that, unlike Joe, Tea Cake doesn’t forbid her from interacting and conversing with the men and women they’re spending time with. Janie realizes she could “talk some herself” (134). Janie is able to use her own voice while communicating, instead of remaining silenced while Tea Cake speaks and takes control over Janie’s opinions. The speaking abilities that Tea Cake doesn’t take away from her contributes to the even split of power in Janie’s relationship with Tea Cake. Tea Cake isn’t confiscating the power she holds in the relationship. Instead, he listens to Janie as she speaks and she listens to him. Tea Cake and Janie’s relationship evenly distributes authority and

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