Essay – Their Eyes Were Watching God Author Zora Neale Hurston weaves many powerful symbols into her acclaimed novel‚ Their Eyes Were Watching God. Hurston’s use of symbols enhances the reader’s understanding of the trials and tribulations along the road of self discovery for the story’s main character‚ Janie. Of the many symbols used throughout the novel‚ one in particular - Janie’s hair - is subtle yet striking as it gives us insight into Janie’s perceived social status‚ oppression‚ self identity
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In the story of Their Eyes Were Watching God‚ Janie’s grandmother‚ Nanny who was a former slave arranged Janie’s marriage to successful farmer named Logan Killicks. Nanny wants a good life for Janie feels with his wealth he could give Janie a stable secure life. Nanny feared that if Janie didn’t marry Logan she would end up like Janie’s mother‚ Leafy‚ which was raped by her teacher and ran off. Nanny wanted to live to know that Janie would be ok once she passes away. Janie decides to marry Logan
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2. Metaphors are an effective way in creating depth and adding creativity within stories. In the novel‚ Their Eyes Were Watching God‚ Neale Hurston used motifs of the horizon numerous times to illustrate a symbol of Janie’s crusade to find contentment. The horizon was the strongest metaphor presented in the novel‚ for it had many effects. Janie often stared toward the horizon in search of hope and justification. Her horizon changed continuously as she set out for something bigger. One example was
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Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston tells the story of a women Janie‚ who arrives at Eatonville Florida lonely after two years; she tells her story about finding happiness. Janie’s story especially the ending where she comes to conclusion about her happiness‚ suggesting that happiness is a trial and error of never knowing what happiness is like until it has been experienced. Janie wants to be happy and to be loved by someone that will make Janie happy; although her nanny thinks that
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draped it over her shoulder. So much of life in its meshes! She called in her soul to come and see.” (p193) Here in Their Eyes Were Watching God we can see the symbol and importance of horizons. Horizons‚ in Janie’s case‚ symbolizes how she matures as a woman‚ and seeks what love is‚ living and making choices as she desires! Meanwhile‚ she has no one to guide her‚ but God is by her side through every step of the way! Before Janie’s grandmother died‚ she caught her kissing. From that day forward
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relationships throughout the book. Nature comes into play as well when defining who the “God” in the title of the book is referring to. The human body is made of organic material‚ thus coming from nature as well‚ so Janie’s physical appearance‚ more
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In some works of literature‚ a character who appears briefly‚ or does not appear at all‚ is a significant presence. In the novel by Zora Neale Hurston‚ Their Eyes Were Watching God‚ the main character‚ Janie‚ has a grandmother‚ Nanny‚ who is a significant presence in the story‚ although she just appears in some parts of the book. Due to Nanny having a negative experience in her life‚ she wants to marry her granddaughter with someone that she believes will take care and protect Janie. Nanny’s beliefs
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that gives us all the wrong ideas about ourselves. We mistakenly think of self-understanding as self-indulgence‚ and we carry on without asking the most important question we’ll ever ask: Who am I really? Zora Neale Hurston’s novel‚ Their Eyes Were Watching God‚ introduces themes of love‚ status‚ and mannerisms of women while focusing on a woman’s story of self realization and empowerment. In a search for both an idyllic vision of love and herself‚ protagonist Janie Crawford sacrifices everything
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As a black‚ female writer during the Harlem Renaissance‚ Zora Neale Hurston derives feminist themes of identity and empowerment through representing black women in her novel‚ Their Eyes Were Watching God (TEWWG). The novel centers on Janie Crawford’s life experiences the search for her sense of identity and self-empowerment in a society that marginalizes black women. Hurston represents black women as part of the lower social class through the women referenced in each of Janie’s marriages: Nanny‚
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for mostly everything. During that time‚ men lead the household making all the decisions in the relationship. They were dominant over their wives and their was no questions asked. Women took a backseat to their men because they were blinded by love and powerless by male dominance. Men loved the fact that they could control their wives. In Zora Neale Hurston‚ “Their Eyes Were Watching God” Janie is the character that is blinded by her wanting love. In the critical essay‚ “ I Love the Way Janie Crawford
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