Their Eyes Were Watching God
In the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, the main character Janie wants desperately to live her version of the American Dream but she is constantly hampered down and forced to aid others in living out their dreams. She left her first husband, Logan Killicks to run off with Joe Starks, a mystery man who promised an exciting life in a new town in Florida. Things between the two were great until Janie was forced to live a certain way once Joe had become the mayor of the town. Janie’s love for Joe fades as the oppression of her freedoms put on by Joe increases thus causing a rift between Janie and the community. This oppression is the opposite of the American dream for Janie; instead of being able to pursue her dream she is forced to live out someone else’s. Janie first falls in love with Joe because of the promise of a bright future. Joe tells Janie when he is trying to allure her to run away with him, “Janie, if you think Ah aims to tole you off and make a dog outa you, youse wrong. Ah wants to make a wife outa you.”(29) However, the wife that Joe tries to turn Janie in to is not the wife that Janie wants to be.
Janie wishes to have a voice and be a regular citizen amongst the townsfolk. Immediately upon being selecting Joe the mayor, the townspeople asked Janie to make a speech, Joe thwarted the attempt to let her speak, stating that her place was the home and that’s the only reason he married her. This is the first major crack in Janie and Joe’s relationship. Joe made her a woman without a voice, she didn’t much mind that she has to take care of the house, but she does not wish to be spoken for. From this point on, the treatment of Janie by Joe continues to limit her voice and alienate Janie from the rest of the town that she so desires to be a part of. An example of this is Janie and Joe’s house. It is the only two-story house in the town and this, along with other reasons, cause the town to become jealous of Janie and interact
Janie wishes to have a voice and be a regular citizen amongst the townsfolk. Immediately upon being selecting Joe the mayor, the townspeople asked Janie to make a speech, Joe thwarted the attempt to let her speak, stating that her place was the home and that’s the only reason he married her. This is the first major crack in Janie and Joe’s relationship. Joe made her a woman without a voice, she didn’t much mind that she has to take care of the house, but she does not wish to be spoken for. From this point on, the treatment of Janie by Joe continues to limit her voice and alienate Janie from the rest of the town that she so desires to be a part of. An example of this is Janie and Joe’s house. It is the only two-story house in the town and this, along with other reasons, cause the town to become jealous of Janie and interact