Zora Neale Hurstons They Eyes Were Watching God Essay

Zora Neale Hurstons They Eyes Were Watching God It’s no wonder that â€Å"[t]he hurricane scene in Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, is a famous one and [that] other writers have used it in an effort to signify on Hurston† (Mills, â€Å"Hurston†). The final, climactic portion of this scene acts as the central metaphor of the novel and illustrates the pivotal interactions that Janie, the protagonist, has with her Nanny and each of her three husbands. In each relationship, Janie tries to â€Å"’go tuh God, and†¦find out about livin’ fuh [herself]’† (192). She does this by approaching each surrogate parental figure as one would go to God, the Father; she offers her faith and obedience to them and receives their definitions of†¦show more content†¦Janie receives this definition of Nanny’s love and protection with the faith and obedience that one would offer God; â€Å"[i]n the few days to live before she went to Logan Killicks and his often-mentioned sixty acres,† Janie decides, â€Å"Yes, she would love Logan after they were married. She could see no way for it to come about, but Nanny and the old folks had said it, so it must be so† (21). When the forced marriage quickly threatens to annihilate her, however, Janie uses her voice and fights to salvage her dream and her life; â€Å"[s]he beg[ins] to cry† to Nanny and announces, â€Å"’Ah wants things sweet wid mah marriage lak when you sit under a pear tree and think’† (24). Unfortunately, Janie uses her voice to little avail with her first parental figure because Nanny hushes her and says, â€Å"’Better leave things de way dey is†¦Yo’ mind will change[,]’† and she â€Å"sen[ds] Janie along with a stern mien† (24). Janie initially stays with her second parental figure, Logan Killicks, who also assumes the characteristics of a metaphorical hurricane. In the beginning of her marriage, Janie reports that Logan â€Å"’ain’t even talked ‘bout hittin’ [her]†¦He chops all de wood he think [she] wants and den he totes it inside de kitchen for [her]’† (23). However, heShow MoreRelatedMythology in Zora Neale Hurstons Their Eyes Were Watching God1023 Words   |  5 PagesMythology is a key part of many of Zora Neale Hurston’s short stories and novels. She researched the stories of her home town and many other areas of the world. Hurston used this knowledge of myths and stories to help her carry them on to later generations in a form that almost everybody could relate to. Through out all of Zora Neale Hurston’s stories, mythology has been a crucial keystone. Her novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, has been influenced by three different ancient myths: the myths ofRead More Zora Neale Hurstons Their Eyes Were Watching God Essay1399 Words   |  6 PagesZora Neale Hurstons Their Eyes Were Watching God   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"’†¦but she don’t seem to mind at all. Reckon dey understand one ‘nother.’† A woman’s search for her own free will to escape the chains of other people in Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God. In the continuing philosophical debate of free will versus determinism, the question arises as to whether or not free will exists. Do people really have the capability of making decisions on their own? 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Her name is Janie Crawford. Her struggle to find companionship and herself starts as a young girl who had lost both of her parents. She lives with her grandmother who is a nanny for a wealthy white family. JanieRead More The Different Places in Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God588 Words   |  3 PagesThe Different Places in Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God It’s amazing that one state can have within it places that differ greatly in all aspects—people, surrounding, weather, and feeling. Zora Neale Hurston exemplifies this phenomenon in Their Eyes Were Watching God. 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Hurston achieves the greater theme of Their Eyes Were Watching God, of self-expression and independence throughRead MoreRichard Wright’s Misperception of Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God 2453 Words   |  10 Pagesartists of the Harlem Renaissance could ever disagree as much as or be as different as Zora Neale Hurston and Richard Wright. Despite the fact that they are t he same color and lived during the same time period, they do not have much else in common. On the one hand is Hurston, a female writer who indulges in black art and culture and creates subtle messages throughout her most famous novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. On the other hand is Wright, who is a male writer who demonstrates that whites doRead MoreA Womens Search for Identity in Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God729 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"It’s uh known fact, Pheoby, you got tuh go there tuh know there†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hurston 192). The theme of identity can be seen throughout Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, of a story of a women’s journey for self-identification. Through symbolic imagery, such as the pear tree, Janie’s hair, and the horizon, Hurston ultimately shows a women’s quest for her identity. As a young teenager, Janie becomes infatuated with the idea of an idealistic romance: â€Å"She saw a dust-bearing bee sink into theRead MoreJourney To The Horizon in Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God2558 Words   |  11 Pagesâ€Å"Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board,† (Page 1) starts Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, a story about a young girl’s experiences as she tries to find love. The novel begins by distinguishing the dreams of men and women. The dreams of men either come along naturally, or â€Å"sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time.† (Page 1) Women, on the other hand, remember