ipl-logo

Analysis Of Their Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurston

807 Words4 Pages

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

Show More
Related

  • Summary Of Their Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurston

    983 Words  | 4 Pages

    He was able to give her the attention that Logan never did, he even complimented her. In other words, Joe was the “apple to her eye,” which you can till because she didn't hesitate to leave Logan after knowing this guy for a short period of time. Janie left Logan because she believed that Joe is more charming than he is. Janie's main reason as to why she left Logan is because Joe had more ambition and the way he would talk about his plans for the future made Janie believe he's the perfect guy for her. He sounded like he had everything together and that he will be able to financially support her.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis: Their Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale

    169 Words  | 1 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Janie's Jealousy

    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.

    Read More

  • Who Is Janie Crawford's Growth In Their Eyes Were Watching God By Hurston

    839 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Their Eyes Were Watching God Janie's Identity

    1341 Words  | 6 Pages

    (46). Joe believes that he is doing Janie a favor by providing her with the life he thinks she wants, and this causes her to feel isolated. Although she is still unsure of herself, she knows that her vague idea of the life she expects does not align with Joe’s vision. Despite their conflicting viewpoints, she chooses to suffer in silence because of her fear and reliance on Joe for financial security. Janie allows him to create an uneven power dynamic in which she becomes simply a part of Joe’s image for the public eye.

    Read More

  • Their Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurston Character Analysis

    781 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie Crawford proves she is a weak woman by sucking herself into a bad relationship and not doing anything to get out. Jody, Janie’s second husband tried to control her more than anyone else, and he does so successfully. A few reasons why he was overly controlling of her include refusing to let her go do things she wants to do, will not let her talk and enjoy herself with the town’s people, and believes that all women are inferior. Although she does grow to realize that the way he treats her is not right, she keeps her mouth shut and puts up with it.

    Read More

  • What Is The Theme Of Nany In Their Eyes Were Watching God

    798 Words  | 4 Pages

    Zora Neale Hurston Nanny character in the novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God” places non-feministic values into the character Janie at a young age. In the story, the readers follow a young girl named Janie through her life. Nanny is introduced as Janie’s Grandmother and caretaker. She pushes Janie to get married and in doing so instills values that Janie will have to overcome throughout the story. Nanny forces Janie to get married before she passes away.

    Read More

  • The Eyes Are Watching God Character Analysis Essay

    1660 Words  | 7 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Pursuit Of Dreams In Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God

    824 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Gender Inequality In Their Eyes Were Watching God

    1702 Words  | 7 Pages

    Gender Inequality in Their Eyes Were Watching God In the novel, Their Eyes were watching God, by Zora Neal Hurston it is evident that her anthropological background influenced the way she chose to tell the story of Janie’s life. Having this knowledge really helped her gain a perspective on the issue of feminism and the way that women were treated. It also helped her case that Zora herself was an African American woman growing up around the same time period.

    Read More

  • Their Eyes Were Watching God Head Rag Analysis

    441 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Their Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurston

    1011 Words  | 5 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Their Eyes Were Watching God Racism Quotes

    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.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Their Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurst

    763 Words  | 4 Pages

    At this point he is boasting his upper class wealth, and it doesn’t bother him that he took a man’s life work for five dollars. In the long run Joe will get richer and Matt will get poorer. The mule becomes somewhat of a mascot for the town of Eaton, but eventually dies. A funeral is held for the mule which turns into a big event. Janie is eager to attend the “draggin’-out” of the mule, but is quickly shot down by Joe who claims she doesn’t want to be seen “wid any and everybody in uh passle pushin’ and

    Read More

  • Janie's Three Marriages

    801 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

More about Analysis Of Their Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurston

Open Document