Theme Of Modernism In Their Eyes Were Watching God

Madison Marsh

Mrs. Shjarback

English 3A

31 May 2023

The Finding of Love and Self worth Throughout time women have changed the way they allow men to treat them. Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God demonstrates the individualistic ideals of modernism through Janie's defiance of traditional gender roles in society. Modernism is a time period that shows change, and the desire to be free from authority. In the novel, modernism is pursued through Janie's journey towards self discovery and personal freedom in her relationships. The failure of the American dream that becomes her life reveals that challenging these traditions can leave you with nothing. From the beginning, Janie had hoped for a fulfilling relationship with both

Janie had learned from her struggles to not allow men's words define her. She does not allow herself to fit the role of a black woman at this time, which was to obey all men and be “dominated by hard labor and financial instability” (Jordan 108). Meaning, women would work hard at home doing chores and cooking but received nothing in return. Once Joe learns of Janie's defiance, their relationship becomes very toxic. He finds any reason he can to bring her down and make her feel worthless. One day, Jody tells Janie she's “no young girl” ( Hurston 79) in front of the whole store of their friends. Jody has said things like this to Janie many times to bring her down. She had decided to reject “the impositions of tradition”(Trudy) and did not allow this to proceed. Which is what this time period is about, not keeping old traditions. To “liberate herself” from all the remarks he had made, Janie had enough and engaged in “a verbal battle with Jody”(Jordan 109). She told him to not talk to her like that and told him he had a “big belly”(Hurston 79). Although this may not seem as a big deal, Janie deprived Joe of the “illusion of irresistible maleness”(Hurston 79) that all men cherish. Due to this, Jody had formed a hatred for Janie and no longer treated her the same. He carried this resentment all the way to his death. Hurston killing

Janie finds her one real true love that she had always dreamed of. When Tea Cake had died, Janie was able to “choose isolation” and she even realized she “chose herself”(Jordan 112). Her life had been fulfilled after this love and she was now able to be happy by herself. When she was in “possession” of a man she was denied any “self-defined goals”(Jordan 109). Once she was able to define her own identity she found how great it was “livin fuh themselves”( Hurston 191). She was at peace with the way her life turned out because Tea Cake allowed her to live the way she wished. Janie learned the ways of “progress and freedom” and “pursuit of reason”(Trudy) for happiness. That's what life during this time period has become about. Allowing yourself to find what makes you happy and being able to live independently with being “satisfied to be here”(Hurston 191). Janie finding happiness in the end shows the discovery of life throughout living. She is able to find herself and her desires to fulfill