Their Eyes Were Watching God Theme Of Identity
The Harlem Renaissance was an era of African Americans that resulted in social and artistic culture through literature, music, and art. In addition, African Americans have struggled with discrimination due to the color of their skin, their way of speaking, and how they act. As women have been treated poorly through history from the government to their close relatives, they have made a difference for 20th century women and beyond. In the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston utilizes characterization effectively develops the theme of identity.
Zora Neale Hurston was born in Eatonville, Florida on January 7, 1903, to reverend John and Lucy Hurston. When Zora was 9 years old her mother died and her father soon remarried; after, her relationship …show more content…
The American Dream are achieved by white characters and standards that control land; unlike Janie’s dreams were to have more of facial features and a luxurious lifestyle. Janie recalls a story in her past and says that since she was raised as the only darker person with whites, Janie was used to white faces. “So when we looked at de picture and everybody got pointed out except a real dark little girl…but Ah couldn’t recognize dat dark chile as me” (Hurston 9). The African American community is described as very envious and do not respect each other ‘Us colored folks is too envious of one ‘nother. Dat’s how come us don’t git no further that us do.” (Hurston 39). Hurston describes the darker colored people with bigger lips and flatter noses; conversely, lighter skinned folks are described with thinner facial features with straighter hair. Since Janie was around white people, she felt superior over the other darker people in their community because she is lighter colored. Hurston inputs Mr. and Mrs. Turner, who are Caucasian and disdains anyone with an African appearance, Mrs. Turner worships Janie due to similar Caucasian features. Mrs. Turner wants to introduce Janie to her brother that is inverse of herself. Indeed, racism is not born with, it is taught and learned; all types of people are “realistically human” (Howard) because it is in human nature to make
Zora Neale Hurston was born in Eatonville, Florida on January 7, 1903, to reverend John and Lucy Hurston. When Zora was 9 years old her mother died and her father soon remarried; after, her relationship …show more content…
The American Dream are achieved by white characters and standards that control land; unlike Janie’s dreams were to have more of facial features and a luxurious lifestyle. Janie recalls a story in her past and says that since she was raised as the only darker person with whites, Janie was used to white faces. “So when we looked at de picture and everybody got pointed out except a real dark little girl…but Ah couldn’t recognize dat dark chile as me” (Hurston 9). The African American community is described as very envious and do not respect each other ‘Us colored folks is too envious of one ‘nother. Dat’s how come us don’t git no further that us do.” (Hurston 39). Hurston describes the darker colored people with bigger lips and flatter noses; conversely, lighter skinned folks are described with thinner facial features with straighter hair. Since Janie was around white people, she felt superior over the other darker people in their community because she is lighter colored. Hurston inputs Mr. and Mrs. Turner, who are Caucasian and disdains anyone with an African appearance, Mrs. Turner worships Janie due to similar Caucasian features. Mrs. Turner wants to introduce Janie to her brother that is inverse of herself. Indeed, racism is not born with, it is taught and learned; all types of people are “realistically human” (Howard) because it is in human nature to make