Their Eyes Were Watching God: Voice Analysis

“Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone. Dawn and doom was in the branches” (Fitzgerald, 6). Life is a mirage of ups and downs and often the extent of these circumstances relies on reactions presented when the situation occurs. The use of voice can often completely change the outcome of an event. However, when one uses their voice depends on not only the internal confidence but also external factors that can influence the decision for the use of voice. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston, depicts how the nature of a relationship can determine the limits that are places on the voice, through Janie’s relations with Nanny, Joe, and Teacake. Janie was raised by her grandmother who she called Nanny. Nanny had raised Janie as a parental figure until she was married off. Nanny encourage Janie to be herself by not distinguishing at an early age the difference between blacks and whites. Janie found out that she was black when a picture was taken and she did not recognize herself.

When they first met, Teacaks suggested to play chess with Janie. This was a big turning point for Janie and her feeling towards Teacake. She felt that “somebody wanted her to play. Somebody thought it was natural for her to play. That was even nice. She looked him over and got little thrills from every one of his good points” (96). Teacake respected her and allowed her to join him in wherever she wanted. He showed his love to her and gave her the respect that she deserved. He showed her that using her voice and being herself could make life much better. When Teacake died, Janie was distraught and she thought, “ He could never be dead until she herself had finished feeling and thinking” (193). He gave her a life that she was proud of herself a life that “she called in her soul to come and see.