RESEARCH PAPER: THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD
Introduction
The novel Their Eyes Were Watching God authored by Zora Neale Hurston is a culmination of different themes touching on matters love and hatred, life and death, murder, and discovery of self-identity. Ultimately, the novel is packed with many themes and issues that affect the society woven to bring the message dexterously home (Lester 20). In essence, the novel is a classic that helps the reader to reflect about specific historical epochs in the way Hurston travels through time to explain issues of culture, tradition, love and pursuit for identity. It can be argued that the novel describes what it is to be human particularly in the American canon. This research paper is a literary analysis of the novel touching on the characters, themes and use of stylistic devices used by the author to develop the acumen and make it germane to the American readers.
Janie Crawford-the main character-elopes from home to get married to one Logan Killicks. She later abandons Logan to marry Joe Starks, and as if that was not enough in her marriage cycle, she goes ahead to marry one Tea Cake. It is through these processes of marriage and remarriage that the reader comprehends that Janie was going through an iterative process of self-discovery and identity recognition. In particular, life in the novel tilts around the relationships that Janie shares with other characters and most importantly her quest for self-identity and spiritual enlightenment (Lester 13). As the novel begins, Janie is lonely; however, Hurston uses her to show the character’s hunger for independence and security and not necessarily the quest for more and more partners. Most importantly, Janie’s personal development is eminent throughout the novel due to her maestro use of language and aesthetic voice (Litwin 32).
Janie’s return to Eatonville dissipates her strength and pride as woman. Relating this with the start of the novel shows complete transformation from a woman who was skeptic of her identity and aspirations in life. In fact, when Janie narrates her story to Phoeby, she starts by explaining the revelations she experienced while under the blossoming pear tree. It is this revelation that triggered her thirst for independence and pursuit for identity. When Janie sits under the pear tree, Hurston paints a picture of someone who was experiencing an ideal reunion with nature. Certainly, Janie realizes that she needed to attain love and reciprocity to unite her with nature; however, she is in doubt regarding how to go about it (Wall 40). Nevertheless, when she married Jody Starks, she feels different from the hardheaded and dull Logan Killicks. Jody is an ambitious person and manages to persuade Janie that he was going to help her attain her dreams regardless of the hurdles. Not so long, that Janie discovers that Jody was exerting power on her, which curtailed her dreams. However, Janie as a strong woman was able to break ranks and retaliate from Jody’s verbal abuses. Somewhat Janie suppressed her inner emotions as shown by her cruel treatment of Jody in his dying bed. On the contrary, Janie was beginning to discover her voice, which enables her flourish in the society in self-expression (Litwin 36).
The only relationship that Janie seems to enjoy is that with Tea Cake. At this point, she gained control to her speech and learns to exercise silence when she had nothing to say. In fact, her ability to use silence as opposed to passivity is eminent during her trial, particularly, when the narrator goes through her trial testimony. More importantly, Janie’s prowess in using her voice has a strong nexus with her inner growth and actual experiences (Lester 15).
Tea Cake is another important character due to the role he plays in plays in helping Janie derive her goals. He supports her just like the other husbands. In essence, Tea Cake takes critical role in helping Janie become stronger and hopeful. Tea Cake helps her develop her sense of spirituality. In particular, Janie knew that he had found a vivacious and innovative individual who enjoyed probing things around him. In fact, Tea Cake was different because he respected Janie and gave her an opportunity to discover and develop herself. As opposed to Logan, who treated Janie inhumanely and Jody silenced her, Tea Cake is willing to dialogue and play around with her. On the other hand, in lieu of suppressing her personality, Tea Cake, encourages her and presents her with new skills and experiences (Litwin 34).
It can be argued that Tea Cake played a significant role in Janie’s development; however, his role was not requisite. This is depicted when Janie takes a gun and shoots him. It is undisputable that Tea Cake served an important role in developing Janie’s character; however, by teaching her how to use a gun, satirically, she uses it to kill him. The shooting demonstrates that Janie was not entirely dependent on Tea Cake rather he helped her discover her sense of happiness, identity and security (Wall 44).
The character of Jody Starks is absolutely different from that of Tea Cake. In a sense, he is diabolical, narcissistic and egoistic. His animalistic behavior is not necessarily due to his hatred to Janie but an indication of the destructive values he harbors in his heart. Jody exerts his power on other people to prove his sense of self, in fact, his happiness is derived from is unequal exercise of power on others. Janie described Jody as an individual who wanted to have his way and trampled on other people’s freedom. He enjoyed the feeling of being authoritarian and dominance over others (Litwin 39). Jody spent much of time bullying, buying, constructing and organizing political events. Ideally, he married Janie to use her as an object and fulfill his transient interests and not because of her interesting person. Further, Jody has a perpetual obsession of power and is opposed to Janie’s development because he wanted her to be static, silent and undeserving. Jody imposes on Janie the rule of tying her hair since he felt like it inhibited and threated his make dominance simply because Janie was beautiful (Lester 17).
Another character is Logan Killicks, who is depicted as a rich peasant farmer. He was the first to marry Janie; though, the marriage was planned. Logan is commandeering because he forcefully requires her to toil in the fields with him, which makes Janie feel disrespected and dehumanized (Litwin 38). Janie’s grandmother-Nanny Crawford-formerly a slave- is filled with traditional gender stereotypes regarding marriage and gender. She is enlightened because she constantly emphasizes on the importance women financial security and independence especially black women. Her idea is that independence and financial security for women can only be achieved through planned marriage (Wall 41).
Themes
Use of Language
Hurston is an excellent writer, but anyone will agree that in this literary piece the author beat the earlier set records in the overall use of language. The uniqueness of the language used is easy to spot for any keen and interested reader. Hurston’s mastery of the rural Southern black dialect is impeccable. As the text unfolds, it becomes quite evident that she expertly employs an intriguing narrative structure, separating the text presentation between an idiomatic discourse and high literary narration (Bloom 39).
Use of the long passages of discourse is in an effort to highlight and appreciate the culturally rich voices of Janie’s world: the speeches of the characters match up to the ones of the characters from the American literature. It is easy to distinguish their distinctive vocabulary, grammar, and their individuality is successfully brought out through their individuality (Litwin 14).
Hurston manipulates language in such a way that it takes up a form that parallels Janie’s struggle to find her voice. Janie fundamentally dwells in a stern pursuit to find a voice and hone her usage of language as a device of advancing and redemption, empowerment and selfhood. Jody suppresses the Janie’s development of voice and language, just the same way he stands on Janie’s way when she needed to talk after getting the mayor’s position (Wall 48). Janie from the start notices how much Jody suppresses her individuality, and it is for this reason that she develops great resentment for him. Tea Cake takes on a very different point of view, and it is easy for any reader o notice how much the character is on equal terms with Janie. He engages her speech; they understand each other easily, and that leads to Janie loving him. Janie identifies with and appreciates Tea Cake’s attitude, which is quite respectful to individuality (Lester 21).
On the realization that she can successfully define herself by speech interactions with others, Janie’s understands that silence can also turn out to be a major source of empowerment as she moves to a higher level. On finding her voice, the character takes up to controlling it. Similarly, reading through the text, it is easy to identify specific places where the author goes silent in places that matter, neither infirming the reader the reason behind Janie not getting upset after Tea Cake beats her up. Asides from this, the author also goes silent over disclosing her words at the trial scene (Wall 49).
Pursuit for Independence versus love and relationships
A close reading of the story helps any reader walk through Janie’s life and observe the way she develops a strong sense of self and towards the end, she is depicted as having become quite happy with her independence. Janie’s struggle for independence is marred by a number of obstacles. Gender-bias shows up an issue she needs to deal with .The character believes that successful relationships are those built on mutual respect, and the author shows that through the relationship that develops between her and Tea Cake. A certain aspect of equality comes to the limelight-an equality she couldn’t achieve from her marriage to both Jody and Logan (Litwin 17).
Dominance, exercise of power and self-fulfillment
The text shows Janie as a character seeking out fulfillment through spirituality as well as through her path towards self-awareness and love. On the other hand, the author depicts Jody as a person in search of fulfillment through power and exertion. The character makes efforts to buy and control people and everything to reach his goal of self-fulfillment. He hopes that there are things he could do to attain a sense of profound fulfillment (Bloom 41).
Usage of Motifs
Community is the first motif observable in this story. On Janie’s return to Eatonville, the literary piece unfolds shedding light on the porch-sitters speculate and gossip her. In Everglades and Eatonville which happen to be the two major settings in the book, Janie from time to time interacts with members of the community she lives in. At given moments, she is shown to be into its part of vibrant social life which the author stipulates offers connection, warmth, safety and interaction for the central character (Wall 54).
In other moments, the author shows Janie as detesting the pettiness of the rumors and gossip in this community. Critics show up condemning her out of jealousy for her strong will in life and independence. Janie is against the society’s take on individuality. She thinks it is totally wrong for the community to force people to abandon their individuality in efforts to obtain a sense of belonging. To her, individuality should be encouraged (Lester 23).
The folklore perspective of religion
As is highlighted by the title, God plays a major role in the text. However, it is crucial to stipulate that this God isn’t the Judeo-Christian god. The literary piece upholds an almost Gnostic dimension of the universe: God is diffuse force as opposed to showing him as a single entity (Wall 55).
This perspective is quite evident through the way in which Hurston depicts nature. From time to time he brings out nature as comprising of the sun, horizon, sea, moon and the sky and the rest of the aspects are shown as being imbued with divinity. The God in the title is meant to refer to the forces operating in the literary text and at times, they are threatening and at other times quite beautiful (Bloom 42). Janie has an unending thirst to establish her place in the world as well as develop an in-depth understanding as regarding who she truly is at the core. The character hopes that one point in time she would be able to reach a point where she connects fully with the environment and be at peace with it (Lester 25). A much closer look into literary text reveals that Hurston in a way identifies with the rural black culture. This is evident through the way in which she presents both folklore and the non-Christian spirituality. The inclusion of the black culture is important towards offering enlightenment to the non-black readers of the book (Bloom 40).
Symbolism
The use of Janie hair is a symbol of independence, power and identity for a strong woman. It shows Janie strength and ability to exercise independence in a community that was defiant of women emotions and their pursuit for happiness. On the other hand, the pear tree represents Janie’s preconception of nature. When the bees come gnawing on the pear tree, it represents Janie’s appreciation of nature’s beauty, its energy and decipherable harmony with it. In fact, throughout the novel, Janie pursues perfection and absolute harmony with nature. Finally, the hurricane depicts the agony and fury of Mother Nature especially when humans seek to interfere with it (Wall 53).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the novel is a culmination of different themes. The author through the character of Janie advances the struggles among many Americans in pursuit of identity, self-fulfillment and independence in a society that is male dominated and chauvinistic. Men in a sense exercise their power and authority to derail the process of dream achievement for many women. However, strong women and those with the will to reach their goals are able to fight the odds and attain independence. The author pushes her agenda for self-identity through employing different stylistic devices such as motif, imagery, and symbolism.
Work cited
Bloom, Harold. “Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God.” New York: Bloom's Literary Criticism, 2009. Web.
Lester, Neal A. “Understanding Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents.” Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 1999. Web.
Litwin, Laura B. “A Reader's Guide to Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God.” Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, 2010. Print.
Wall, Cheryl A. “Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God: A Casebook.” Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 2000. Print.
