Their Eyes Were Watching God Identity Quotes

The Harlem Renaissance was a significant cultural movement that took place in the early 20th century, primarily among African American artists, writers, and musicians. One of the most prominent writers of this period was Zora Neale Hurston, whose novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God" reflects and departs from the Harlem Renaissance by exploring the protagonist's journey towards self-identity and challenging traditional gender roles through the lens of the African American experience in the early 20th century.

In the novel, "Their Eyes Were Watching God," Zora Neale Hurston reflects the themes of the Harlem Renaissance by portraying the protagonist Janie's journey towards self-identity and overcoming the challenges she faces with gender roles.

For example, This transformation is depicted in the quote, "The young girl was gone, but a handsome woman had taken her place. She tore off the kerchief from her head and let down her plentiful hair”(Hurston 97). Hurston uses this image to show how Janie sheds the expectations of society and embraces her true self. This shows that Janie discovered her true self-identity after Joe’s death. She finally felt free to start bettering herself as an african american woman. The quote "This business of the head rag irked her endlessly. But Jody was set on it, her hair was not gonna show in the store" (Hurston 55), exemplifies the challenges that Janie faces with gender roles and societal expectations. Jody, Janie's husband, insists that she wear a head rag to cover her hair while working in their store. This symbolizes the limitations that society places on women, particularly African American women, in terms of their appearance and behavior. Despite Janie's annoyance with the head rag, Jody's determination to enforce it highlights the power dynamics in their

Janie is a strong-willed, independent woman who does not conform to traditional gender norms. For example, While Nanny is expressing her concern for Janie she says "Nother thing, Ah hates tuh see folks lak me and mixed up wid' em. Us oughta”(Hurston 141). This quote demonstrates how Janie's journey toward self-identity departs from the Harlem Renaissance’s idea of collective identity. Janie resists the idea that she should be defined by her race or social status and instead asserts her individuality. This emphasizes how Janie’s individual identity is a departure from the idea of collective identity promoted by many writers of the Harlem Renaissance. Janie rejects the expectations placed upon her by society and refuses to conform to the traditional roles of women during this period. Another example of how “Their Eyes Were Watching God” departed from the Harlem Renaissance is when Logan challenges Janie’s gender roles by saying “Mah fust wife never bothered me 'bout choppin' no wood nohow. She'd to grab dat ax and sling chips lak uh man. You done been spoilt rotten”(Hurston 25). This quote highlights the contrast between Janie's character and the expectations of women during the Harlem Renaissance period. Logan wants a wife that would do the so-called “men's work” without complaint such as work in the field and the farm.