Clothing In Their Eyes Were Watching God, By Zora Neale Hurston

The significance of the yellow mule in “Their Eyes Were Watching God” shows the relationship of Janie with Joe. It significantly implies the repression of Janie by her husband Jody. In the story, “Janie loved the conversations....but Joe had forbidden her to indulge,” reveals that Joe didn’t allow her to participate in conversation with other people. He enjoyed in whatever he likes, but she didn’t allow to do so. She expected to obey for her husband like others. “He ordered Janie to tie up her hair around the store” reveals that she did everything to his happiness not for her. Even though she is a wife of a mayor, she didn’t get any privilege rather she lost her social relationship with other people. She lived under the dominance of her husband

Have you ever been in a past relationship and started a new one only to realize you have been comparing the two? You may realize that you desire the past spark that the present does not have. In Zora Neale Hurston's novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, she utilizes juxtaposition to discreetly invite the audience to compare two scenes; whether it be Janie’s reactions to events, Janie’s outlook on a goal or fantasy versus someone else's, or how Janie is treated by her spouse.

The “Rock Pile” by James Baldwin and “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston are two stories that examined black male resistance to emasculation. The men in these stories lived in patriarchal societies, and they reaped the benefits of a structure that favored men. In both of these stories, the male characters are dominant figures in their households, and when they felt like their manhood was being attacked, they retaliate viciously.

Jaine's hair can represent divergence and conformity to male dominated society, But also a symbol of her power and strenght and individuality. It can also represent her independence and boldness of the communities standards the hold to her. The people of the town find it improper that Janie decides to wear her hair down but her refusal to put her hair up clearly shows she has a rebellious spirit. Her hair can be a symbol of masculine power and strength. Janie likes to wear her hair down or in a braid unlike how most women would wear their hair back like the men tell them to do. This blurs gender lines and thus threatens Jody. Janie’s hair it has the characteristics of a white person from what I've read. Mrs. Turner is a character who worships

Hurston and Janie both endured oppression during their lives based upon their race and gender however, their strong wills propelled them threw unforeseen obstacle. Zora Neale Hurston was a phenomenal African American woman whom despite her rough childhood would become one of the most profound authors of the century. Throughout her lifetime she was the, “Recipient of two Guggenheims and the author of four novels, a dozen short stories, two musicals, two books on black mythology, dozens of essays, and a prizewinning autobiography” (Gates 4). Hurston had to overcome numerous obstacles because of her gender, economic status, and racial identity. Hurston was born in 1891 in Notasulga, Alabama but grew up in Eatonville, Florida. Her mother died when she was thirteen-years-old, and as a result, her father sent her to boarding school shortly after. Overcoming many odds, Hurston graduated from Barnard college in 1927 with her

One major theme authors universally write their stories around concern the power of human relationships. Though writers may take different paths to communicate this, the strength that comes from these unique connections that exist between individuals resonates with everyone. Authors clearly articulate through a myriad of rhetorical devices that maintaining relationships is a fundamental part in personal growth and allows for a stronger sense of self. In finding companionship and comradery. people become capable of evolving and arriving at better understandings of who they are.

She felts as if she was lost and that she had lost apart of herself. Hurston writes, “She tore off the kerchief from her head and let down her plentiful hair. The weight, the length, the glory was still their”. Although Jamie was tied up her beauty remained. This reveals that although there can be something holding you down, your true self and beauty will always remain. Not only does Janie find herself once again but she is stronger. The head rag not only helped her find herself, but it helped her grow as a person. Hurston states, “The young girl was gone, but a handsome women had taken her place”. The head rag symbolized Joe’s power that confined Janie. Joe thought that the head rag would hold her back, but it really helped her grow as a person.

Janie’s hair plays a big role in this book. It brings out her power and unique identity, but Jody takes that away from Janie. Jody sees that Janie’s hair attracts some of the townspeople, so he makes Janie wrap her hair and hide it.” Her hair was NOT going to show in the store. It didn’t seem sensible at all. That was because Joe never told Janie how jealous he was.”(p 55) When Jody dies Janie reveals her power and identity again by letting her hair free. She ignores what the townspeople have to say about it and

Emotionally he felt jealousy toward Janie because every man will stare at her, so he made her wear a head rag. The author say’s “this business of the head rag irked her endlessly. But Jody was set on it. Her hair was not going to show in the store” (Hurston 55). Spiritual he made Janie feel trapped because she couldn’t do anything, and he always make her work in the store. When Joe died it gave her the physical growth to finally take off her head rag as symbolizing her freedom. The author say’s “she tore off the kerchief from her head and let down her plentiful hair” (Hurston 87). Now that Joe represented those things in Janie life. Her last husband Tea Cake also will represent in Janis’s emotional, spiritual, and physical

In Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie is a young woman who struggles to find her identity. Janie Separates her exterior life from her interior life by keeping certain thoughts and emotions inside her head, and she reconciles this by while presenting the proper woman society expects her to be. Janie also silently protests to those expectations by acting against what people require of her, both emotionally and physically.

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.

In the face of adversity, what causes some individuals to fail while others prevail? Many people face difficulties. Depending on the person’s strength some will get through tough times, but some will fail to overcome them. I have chosen two books: Their Eyes Were Watching God and The Book Thief. These two stories deal with people overcoming the difficulties they face throughout their life. Some difficulties include racism, religious discrimination, and dealing with others’ cruelness or kindness.

“Their Eyes Were Watching God” is a novel written by Zora Neale Hurston. The novel portrays Janie, a middle aged black woman who tells her friend Pheoby Watson what has happened to her husband Tea Cake and her adventure. The resulting telling of her story portrays most of the novel. Throughout the novel, Zora Neale Hurston presents the theme of love, or being in a relationship versus freedom and independence, that being in a relationship may hinder one’s freedom and independence. Janie loves to be outgoing and to be able to do what she wants, but throughout the book the relationships that she is in with Logan,Jody and Tea Cake, does not allow her to do that. Neale Hurston further supports this theme with symbolism, like Janie's hair rag that held up her

Porch. A covered shelter projecting in front of the entrance of a building. This inanimate object served to develop various themes throughout the book, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. She reveals the theme of jealousy and envy, gender inequality and a sense of community with the help of the porch.

“A&P” by John Updike is written through the eyes of a young grocery store clerk named Sammy. While working, a group of girls walk into the store, wearing their bathing suits, causing all the workers to drool over them, but when they come to check out the manager Lengel tells them that what they are wearing is against policy. As the girls leave, embarrassed, Sammy courageously quits his job due to this incident, hoping to impress the girls, but as he walks out of the A&P he realizes that they are gone.