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This is my book analysis over "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston.
Citation preview
Book Analysis #5
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
By Jarell Wilson
January 29, 2009
“‘Two things everybody’s got tuh do do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they
got tuh find out about livin’ fuh theyselves’” (p.192).
How does the author use style to show the reader that it is necessary for people to find
their own identity or self-worth so they may provide themselves with all they need?
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People often attach themselves to others for security and comfort, this leads to a
dependence on others for identity, social necessities, and/or other necessities of humanity.
Therefore it is necessary for people to find their own identity or self-worth, through their
life experiences so they may provide themselves with all they need. In Their Eyes Were
Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston uses style via imagery, use of colloquialisms, biblical
allusion, characterization, and plot to show the reader that life is not worth living if one
does not have a voice that belongs solely to oneself.
First, Hurston’s use of imagery is constant throughout the novel as a whole is
prevalent, but it is often most used to describe nature, and through nature to reveal insight
to Janie’s thoughts and her character. “Oh to be a pear tree-any tree in bloom! With
kissing bees singing of the beginning of the world! … She had glossy leaves and bursting
buds…where were the singing bees for her (11)?”, and “From now on until death she was
going to have flower dust and springtime sprinkled over everything. A bee for her bloom
(32).” The author also uses imagery to paint grave images in the reader’s mind as well
for instance; “Some bodies dressed, some naked, and some with clam faces and satisfied
hands. Some dead with fighting faces and eyes flung wide open in wonder. Death had
found them watching, trying to see beyond seeing (170).”, and “Night was striding across
nothingness with the whole round world in his hands (158).” These dark images create a
true sense of setting in the reader’s mind and allow the theme to be revealed by the plot
more effectively.
Second, the use of colloquialisms by Hurston creates a proper feel of the time and
setting, also others the reader to gain a sense that the characters are more “alive” in a
sense. The style in which Hurston uses colloquialism shows the reader that the characters
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are uneducated and of southern descent, “You done lived wid me for twenty years and
you don’t half know me atall. And you could have but you was so busy worshippin’ de
works of yo’ own hands…(86)” Such use of phonetics show the reader the realistic
qualities of the character’s vocabularies and education level for the time period in which
they lived. The theme is revealed to the reader through the use of colloquialisms, by the
power that lies within the main character’s ability to find her own voice, “She made them
see how she couldn’t ever want to be rid of him. She didn’t plead to anybody (187).”
Also, due to the sacredness and familiarity the Bible has with most English
audiences authors have utilized it as tool to make their themes more understandable to the
audience, Hurston is no exception. Hurston uses Biblical allusions to show the reader the
power of the phrases her characters use, and deep insights to the characters as a whole.
“Janie had robbed him of his illusion of irresistible maleness that all men cherish, which
was terrible. The thing that Saul’s daughter had done to David (79).” Biblical allusions
are also used to describe Mrs. Turner obsession with Janie, “Half gods are worshipped in
wine and flowers. Real gods require blood (145).” Characters also use Biblical allusions,
Janie alludes to a messiah complex she feels for Tea Cake when she states in her mind,
“Tea Cake the sun of the Evening Sun had to die for loving her (178)”, such a reference
leads the reader to fully understand the power of the emotions Janie feels for Tea Cake.
Her love for Tea Cake leads her to her discovery of who she is.
Another tool the author uses is characterization to reveal the theme to the reader
by showing the reader how having a sense of identity and self-worth empowers Janie to
experience life for herself, thus providing herself with all of her necessities. First, Janie
was dependent on her grandmother for everything leading her grandmother to provide a
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husband for her, “Ah’m ole now. Ah can’t be always guidin’ yo feet from harm and
danger. Ah wants to see you married right away (13).” After her marriage to Logan
Killicks, Janie goes from man to man and not until the death of her third husband Tea
Cake does Janie stick up for herself. Before being in a relationship with Tea Cake and
discovering who she is Janie allowed others to push her to and fro, “‘You getting’ too
moufy, Janie,’ Starks told her. ‘Go fetch me de checker-board and de checkers.’ (75”, the
fact that the speaker, Joe Starks her second husband, used the word fetch, reveals to the
reader that to him Janie was more of a servant than an equal partner in their marriage. By
the end of Tea Cake’s life and their marriage, Janie develops hobbies and even is able to
defend herself in a court of law and win her case, “‘We find the death of Vergible Woods
to be entirely accidental and justifiable, and that no blame should rest upon the defendant
Janie Woods (188).” The independence that is revealed to the reader through the actions
of this once helpless little girl shows the power that lies in a person finding their own
sense of identity and significance.
Finally, the main tool that Zora Neale Hurston uses to reveal the theme to the
reader is her artful use of plot. The plot at first sounds quite simple: a young girl forced
into marriage by her grandmother and caretaker, but longs to find true love and
acceptance. The author then takes the reader from that simple outline and plunges the
reader into a deep journey in which the reader travels through the life of the main
character Janie. Not only that, but the reader also dives in and out of streams of Janie’s
consciousness, her narration, and the omniscient point-of-view. After Janie’s marriage to
Logan Killicks, she meets her second husband, “Joe Starks was the name, yeah Joe Starks
from in and through Georgy (28).” During her relationship with Janie felt trapped and
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oppressed, “Then one day she sat and watched the shadow of herself going about tending
the store and prostrating itself before Jody…making summertime out of lonesomeness
(77).” After the death of her husband Joe Starks, Janie meets Tea Cake, a man much
younger than Janie is and, the two fall in love, “He looked like the love thoughts of
women. He could be a bee to a blossom- a pear tree blossom in the spring (106).”
Throughout the course of the relationship Janie grows as a character and even after Tea
Cakes death she treasures him in her heart, “The kiss of his memory made pictures of
love and light against the wall. Here was peace (193).” At the end of Janie narrating her
story to her friend Pheoby she states, “Two things everybody’s got tuh do fuh theyselves.
They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin’ fuh theyselves (192).” By
using the plot, Hurston allows the reader to see the theme of the novel for themselves,
and through the eyes of Janie and her life experiences.
In my own life, I have found this to be true. At the beginning of the school the
choir began the competitive TMEA Audition process, with hopes that one of the students
in our choir department would make All-State Choir, I had a rather good shot at
achieving the aforementioned goal. I went from eleventh chair at District auditions, to
seventh chair at Region, to second chair at Pre-Area. All things were looking like they
were going to work out in my favor, Area auditions, which also count for State auditions
came on January 10, 2009 , and I thought my performance was rather brilliant, but only
two out of the five judges agreed with me. I ended up in twelfth chair. I was heartbroken;
it seemed that all of my hopes and aspirations for the school year had been shattered and
that the goal that I had been working on since the beginning of the school year had been
destroyed. I questioned my musical ability and if I had been deceived, or maybe the
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judges made a mistake, maybe they switched my card with some loser’s card. I checked,
and double checked, but to no travail, the judges really didn’t like me. This put me in to a
form of semi-depression in which I doubted my ability, but I realized one day walking to
class that music isn’t the same to everyone and that I had been artistic according to my
own likings, and what I like three out of five of those judges did not. I had to fail at that
audition to realize that I cannot allow my views of myself to be changed by outside
forces. I know who I am and I cannot, nor will not allow others to manipulate that about
me.
This novel has great literary merit; it teaches society as a whole about the
importance of finding one’s own personal importance and cherish and respect the value
of one’s life and the lives of those one loves. In conclusion, Their Eyes Were Watching
God’s use of, use of colloquialisms, biblical allusion, characterization, and plot to show
the reader that life is not worth living if one does not have a voice that belongs solely to
oneself.
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