Their Eyes Were Watching God through the Feminist Perspective
Their Eyes Were Watching God is, among many things, considered a feminist novel. It explores themes of female empowerment and independence through instances of love, marriage and contentment. Janie Crawford, the main character, is an independent woman who is determined to live her life how she wants without the strain of fitting into society. She does this while combating the expectations given to her by friends, family, and the world in its entirety. The novel also explores Janie’s struggle to navigate the oppressive patriarchal norms of her community, which view women as inferior and subordinate to men.
One of the key displays of feminism in the novel is through Janie's relationships
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From the men in her life, she is expected to submit and show nothing but compliancy to men. Her grandmother married her off twice only to secure her socially and financially. Both of these marriages are unhappy and unfulfilling because Janie is unable to express her true self. Janie also finds that she is unable to find love or companionship with her husbands because their main purpose was to control her, not to love her. Tea Cake alleviates these feelings and encourages Janie’s freedom as it relates to her independence, but also shows her that she can find true happiness and fulfillment with …show more content…
The theme of women openly embracing their sexuality and exploring their desires. This concept is often deemed taboo in patriarchal societies, much like many of the themes considered throughout the novel. Though the idea of women freely giving in to their sexuality is essentially frowned upon, Hurston uses that to her advantage and creates a pipeline between the two.
Janie's journey through self-discovery and self empowerment is closely tied to her sexuality, as she learns to embrace her desires and find fulfillment in her relationships with men. Hurston uses it as a challenge to the overall patriarchal society and an opposition to gender roles. This exploration of female sexuality is a powerful feminist statement, as it challenges the traditional view of women as passive and submissive objects of male desire.
Additionally, Hurston uses sexuality as a bridge towards race and power. Janie’s sexuality had a large part in her experience as an African American woman, as explained in the intersectionality of feminism and race. With this, Hurston paints a picture of African American