How Did Zora Neale Hurston Use Feminism In Their Eyes Were Watching God

Feminism is formally defined as the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes. In short, this means females are fighting for their rights and to be treated the same as men. The novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God written by Zora Neale Hurston is based on the main character, Janie Crawford’s change that has led her to be autonomous. Janie is a young woman who learned many valuable lessons that helped her to make decisions for herself. Janie’s search for autonomy is intertwined with feminism due to Janie’s past, her previous marriages, and the display of sexism. Janie’s past consists of her grandmother, known as Nanny throughout the book. Nanny taught Janie everything after her mother abandoned her and the father was

For example, “On a late afternoon Nanny had called her to come inside the house because she had spied Janie letting Johnny Taylor kiss her over the gatepost” (Hurston 10). This quote takes place in the beginning of the book when Nanny catches Janie kissing a boy in front of the house. Not only does this show Janie starting to become her own person without Nanny’s permission, but it also shares her grandmother's disapproval of Janie’s actions. Janie chooses to do this to benefit herself and isn’t thinking of anyone else besides her. Another example of how Janie searches for independence due to her past is when Nanny makes a life changing decision without thinking of her granddaughters feelings. Nanny says, “Yeah, Janie, youse

Her first husband treated Janie poorly, and attempted to make her feel less than him at every chance he got. For example Logan states, “Ah aims tuh run two plows, and dis man Ah’m talkin’ ‘bout is got uh mule all gentled up so even uh woman kin handle ‘im” (Hurston 26). Logan is a man of his word, and is grim. Once he announces he will be getting another mule so Janie can help out, she no longer sees a future with him, instead she is just upset he expects her to help him when she is miserable, and not in love. Logan assuming that Janie will help out for the rest of her life around the house is how he is holding Janie back from being herself. Also this shows how Logan is trying to possess power and superiority over his wife by keeping her in a marriage based on her grandmother's wishes. Janie’s second husband Jody was very controlling, abusive and overall a terrible person. Jody built up the town Eatonville from scratch, making him wealthy and arrogant. When the married couple first became known Jody would never allow Janie to speak to the public, show her hair or even allow happiness and laughter into her life. When he passed however, something new and refreshing showered over Janie. For example, “Before she slept that night she burnt up every one of her head rags and went about the house next morning with her