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Analysis Of Their Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurston

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How can an African-American woman think for herself? In the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, which took place in the southern parts of the United States in the late 1800s. The author, Zora Neale Hurston wrote of a woman named, Janie, that fought against three men that she married for her independence. She was victorious in this endeavor of becoming independent but at the cost of emotional and physical pain. Janie can be characterized as the evolving heroine of this story. Janie Crawford is the main character that this novel is revolves around. This makes her the protagonist of this story as she walks down a journey of independence from her three marriages. Throughout her life she faces dynamic changes from an oppressed character with restraints …show more content…

Janie marries at a young age to Logan Killicks, a fair man much older than her. Logan was a good man but at the fact of being forced to marry, Janie felt bonded down to her situation as she beggs to her grandmaother "Please don't make me marry Mr. Killicks". (pg.15) Since Janie has not fulfilled her role as a housewife Logan forces her to work in the fields with him, "Looka heah, LilBit, help me out some". (pg.26) This was an unusual thing for Janie to do because she has never worked before let alone labor work. This suppression of feelings creates an rebellious side of Janie which shows it's self predominantly as she runs off with Joe …show more content…

Once at Eatonville and Joe becomes mayor things started to change for the better of the town and worst for Janie. From the beginning Joe Starks was looking to create a life exactly how he wanted it that included an submissive wife. Janie was again thrown into the shackles of oppression as Joe makes her work at a store. In addition Janie was seen as an beautiful woman and often enjoyed herself with social activities at the store. Joe was jealous at the fact that she was getting closer to other people and disliked the idea that him and her was at the social class of commoners. In order to solve the problem of social class, Joe orders Janie to stop associating with the commoners stating "But you ain't goin' off in all dat mess uh commonness" (pg.60). Then it is meant that Joe commands her to wear a head rag to hide her hair. "Her hair was NOT going to show in the store" (pg.55) Janie gives into his strict demands and for twenty years Joe dominated over Janie until his death. His death freed Janie once again from control and she made this known as she took off the head rag which was her first sign of independence in this

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- Zora Neale Hurston, born January 7th, 1891, was an African-American author, widely known for her classic novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. Being raised in Eatonville, Florida, the first black township of the United States, Hurston was indulged in black culture at a very early age. Zora was described to have a fiery, yet bubbly spirit, befriending very influential people, one being American poet, Langston Hughes. With heavy influence from her hometown, along with the achievement of the black women around her, an abundance of motivation came when Hurston wrote Their Eyes Were Watching God. The novel promotes black power, all while rejecting the stereotypes held against women.

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The head rag helped reveal both Joe’s personality and how he wanted Janie to himself. The head rag helped Janie find her true beauty and capabilities even though being held back. The head rag overall was to show men’s power and how they can restrain women from growing and Jaie served as the one to break that

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226 Words | 1 Pages

Eventually, Janie decided to leave Logan for another man she met names Joe Starks, and her quest for love continued with her new marriage. Janie was instantly attracted to Joe’s innate power because he gave her hope that she could reach the “horizon” (page 36). Joe took over as mayor of Eatonville and his influence increased dramatically with his improved confidence. He made decisions for Janie, just as her grandmother had, and forbid her from living like every other townsperson. For example, Janie was not allowed to associate with any customers in the store she helped Joe run, she could not wear her hair down in the store, and she had to dress a particular way because of Joe’s raging jealousy.

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He is the man who fills the voids of loneliness and love, and continues her development as a woman. Joe’s impact on Janie’s emotional growth is that he emotionally abused her to the point where she wouldn’t talk anymore and he only wanted a pretty wife/show wife because he was the mayor of Eatonville. She felt like she had lost her identity because the people would call her Mrs. Mayor Starks and would never use her real name. She also feels like she lost her identity because she always listened to what Joe had to say about her appearance and whatever he suggested she would do it. Joe also had an impact on Janie’s physical growth is that he also physically abused her when every should would do the slightest thing wrong.

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“Before she slept that night she burnt up every one of her head rags and went about the house next morning with her hair in one thick braid swinging well below her waist.” (9.3) Following the death of Joe Starks, Janie gets a sense of freedom from burning her head rags. This is symbolic not only literally, but figuratively as well, as Jody kept her in an unfit relationship where jealousy and unequalness between the two played a role. “Besides she liked being lonesome for a change. This freedom feeling was fine.”

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As time pass Janie grows tired of waiting and being with Joe. Still she stays with him because she has the hope that he will change. Joe Starks in the other hand sees Janie as his ticket to get know by more people, including the porch people, and to recieve more property. He like demanding Janie, “Janie, Ah reekon you better go fetch me dem old black gaiters,”(C.6 P.57) but deep inside he still feels something for Janie. Their respected because Joe is mayor and Janie is Mrs.Mayor Janie.

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In all three marriages Janie grew up. She was only 16 when first married. Everything she learned was from the time she was 16 to when Tea Cake died. Not only did Janie become the women she wanted, but became someone she felt comfortable being. Nothing could take that away from her.

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Janie’s first husband Logan Killicks was saddened. She left right away when she got the chance. She left with Joe Starks to Eatonville. She thought that Joe was a great man and husband at first. But after years, Joe has shown his actual personality and that Janie did not want him anymore because he’s not the same guy that she met.

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In the novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston argues that relationships provide guidance in Janie’s life journey in order to showcase Janie’s three different and challenging marriages, ultimately illustrating that independence and freedom is necessary for self-discovery. Janie and Logan’s subpar marriage helped Janie ultimately become a woman. Hurston provides a direct characterization of

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In The Eyes are Watching God, the author Zora Neale Hurston expresses the struggles of women and black societies of the time period. When Hurston published the book, communities were segregated and black communities were full of stereotypes from the outside world. Janie, who represents the main protagonist and hero, explores these communities on her journey in the novel. Janie shows the ideals of feminism, love, and heroism in her rough life in The Eyes. Janie, as the hero of the novel, shows the heroic qualities of determination, empathy, and bravery.

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She was treated very well for the first year, but after that, her only use was to do manual labor. By doing this, Janie's wishes were left in the shadows. She got used to the orbit of following the norms and doing what she was told. After a bit she was tired of feeling used and left him for a man that had more potential to love her. Janie's second husband, Joe Starks, was ambitious and promised Janie a better life.

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1339 Words | 6 Pages

Their Eyes Were Watching God “One of the greatest regrets in life is being what others would want you to be, rather than being yourself” (Shannon L. Alder). Many African American women during the 1930’s including the character Janie Crawford in the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston can strongly relate to this quote. In a time period where several groups of people are being categorized by gender, race and many other factors, Janie overcomes these throughout the novel. The novel addresses the concepts of racism and discrimination, the oppression of women, and finding oneself throughout life.

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Their Eyes were watching God In the book Their Eyes were watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, there are many different elements and essential questions used in the novel. In the novel of essential elements is about the idea of family and power, and that is discussed throughout the book. The book tell what role that each character effect the main character Janie, and the plot of the book itself. Then also the book tells about gender roles, such as the relationship between Jody and Janie, and how Janie uses Jody to take her places, but Jody uses her as a person to control.

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The pursuit of dreams has played a big role in self-fulfillment and internal development and in many ways, an individual 's reactions to the perceived and real obstacles blocking the path to a dream define the very character of that person. This theme is evident in Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, which is about the search for identity. A woman of a mixed ethnicity resides in several communities, each playing an important role and serve as crucial influences on her life. During the story, she endures two failed relationships and one good relationship, dealing with disappointment, death, the wrath of nature and life’s unpredictability.

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Zora Neale Hurston, an author during the Harlem Renaissance, wrote Their Eyes Were Watching God, an amazing novel written about the losses and loves of a lady named Janie Crawford. The author describes the way Janie found out who she really was and what love was throughout her three marriages. Janie’s first two marriages were unfulfilling and not healthy for herself. Janie realized what true love was when she met Tea Cake. Janie’s first marriage was to a man named Logan Killicks, which was forced upon her by her grandmother.

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