Their Eyes Were Watching God Paper
Essay Preview: Their Eyes Were Watching God Paper
Report this essay
In the United States, newly elected president Donald Trump speaks boldly and confidently for what he wants in the country he wishes to lead. Donald Trump is very well known for his unorthodox way to get his point across through speech. In the Southern African American novel Theyre Eyes Were Watching God; the author Zora Neale Hurston does a spectacular job portraying the way the protagonist Janie Crawford shows both the nature in her community and the quality of her life through her bold speech and actions. Theyre Eyes Were Watching God tells her story of a women who strives to find the freedom of a balanced relationship in her life to she can enjoy her own goal of happiness. Within the story, Janie is faced with several obstacles throughout her lifetime which are shown and expressed through her speech. Because of Zora Neale Hurstons use of dialect through the character Janie, readers understand about the role in her southern community and the bold, outspoken, and confident quality of Janies Life.
In Theyre Eyes Were Watching God Hurston uses Janies speech to understand the quality of her life. Janie speaks in a very bold and brave tone, she often says what she wants and means it. As a African American women in early twentieth century America, Jamie makes the mistake of speaking for herself whenever she wants. Janie says that “Ah ain’t no young gal no mo.’” (Hurston 29) The quality of Janies life at this point is not great because she is arguing with her husband, Joe Starks. Janie feels like she does not have enough power in the relationship, so she says that she is not a girl anymore, but she also says that “but den Ah ain’t no old woman neither.” (Hurston 29) Janie is trying to tell Joe that she is really not that old, so he should stop calling her old, because he is older then she is. Finally, Janie makes one last point to Joe before he dies “you aint de Jody ah run off down de road wid.” (Hurston 71) Janie is recognizing that the state of her life changed when she ran off with Joe, he life as good, exciting, and adventurous; Although as sooner as they got settled in Eatonville, Joe changed drastically, making Janies life more boring, sedate, and unprovoking.
Just like Hurston used Janies speech to tie ends with the quality of her life. Janies speech does a great job explaining the nature in her community. Janie lives in a community that looks up to the leaders that lead it, which ties in very well with how she talks and what she says. Janies speech shows this when she says to Joe “Freein’ dat mule makes uh mighty big man outa you.” (Hurston 45) Janie is acknowledging Joes gesture to the community as a mayor. Janie uses her speech in this quote to make Joe look like a hero to the community by purchasing the mule to save it from slaughter. Janie later then says to Joe and his friends “You big-bellies round here and put out a lot of brag.” Janie is blatantly explaining that Joe and his friends are entitled and have a loud voice in the community; however their words do not have any substance behind them and cannot be backed up. Janies speech shows the nature of this community to be corrupt and ran by arrogant people. Janie speaks for what is true in her community, she is always striving to make her community a place of truth and clarity. As said by the Narrator “Joe is mad she made him look bad when he did it to her.” (Hurston 62). The narrator