Essay on Janie’s Courageous Voice in Their Eyes Were...

Janie’s Courageous Voice in Their Eyes Were Watching God Through her use of southern black language Zora Neale Hurston illustrates how to live and learn from life’s experiences. Janie, the main character in Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, is a woman who defies what people expect of her and lives her life searching to become a better person. Not easily satisfied with material gain, Janie quickly jumps into a search to find true happiness and love in life. She finally achieves what she has searched for with her third marriage. Unfortunately, however, after years of a happy marriage, Janie accidentally kills her husband during an argument. Her town forces her not only to deal with the grief, but to prove her innocence to a†¦show more content†¦Soon after they move to a new town, Eatonville, Joe concentrates his time and thoughts on being the mayor and becoming powerful, not towards Janie. One evening, as the town gathers for the grand opening of its general store, Joe denies Janie the chance to make a speech, even though the crowd wants one: â€Å"‘Thank yuh for yo’ compliments, but mah wife don’t know nothin’ ‘bout no speech-makin’. Ah never married her for nothin’ lak dat. She’s uh woman and her place is in de home’† (43). Janie, very hurt and embarrassed, does not tell Joe of her feelings, but instead keeps them to herself. This non-confrontational attitude toward her marriage shows how easily Janie lets Joe control her with his authority: â€Å"‘Ah hates disagreement and confusion, so Ah better not talk. It makes it hard to get along’† (57). Instead of working out her anger with her husband, an important quality in any working relationship, Janie keeps quiet and lets the frustration and emotion build within her. As their marriage grows, so do Janie’s opinions and her ability to express them. She starts to stand up to Joe when they get into arguments, although Joe continues to refuse to see or speak with her. As Joe grows ill, and close to death, Janie forces him to listen to what she has to say: Naw, you gointuh listen tuh me one time befo’ you die. Have yo’ way all yo’ life, trample and mash down and then die ruther than tuh let yo’self heah ‘bout it. Listen,Show MoreRelated Voice and Language in Their Eyes Were Watching God Essay example2794 Words   |  12 PagesVoice and Language in Their Eyes Were Watching God      Ã‚   In one way or another, every person has felt repressed at some stage during their lives. Their Eyes Were Watching God is a story about one womans quest to free herself from repression and explore her own identity; this is the story of Janie Crawford and her journey for self-knowledge and fulfillment.   Janie transforms many times as she undergoes the process of self-discovery as she changes through her experiences with three completelyRead More Janie from Their Eyes Were Watching God, Gatsby from The Great Gatsby, June from The Joy Luck Club, and Edna from The Awakening1727 Words   |  7 PagesJanie from Their Eyes Were Watching God, Gatsby from The Great Gatsby, June from The Joy Luck Club, and Edna from The Awakening In most of the worlds greatest literature, there have been introduced countless courageous characters and triumphant victories. These characters have the power to father strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. Such characters as Janie from Their Eyes Were Watching God, Gatsby from The Great Gatsby, June from The Joy Luck Club, and Edna from TheRead MoreThe Harlem Renaissance By Zora Neale Hurston1896 Words   |  8 Pagesnovelist who was not only an inspiration to those surrounding her, but also the world as she became known as an earlier version of a feminist but in her eyes, didn t consider herself one. Her writing provided a desperately needed feminine voice in a movement that was dominated by men. She inspired and encouraged other novelists to be courageous and go on a personal journey to reveal individual identity. Hurston was very unique, she was interested in showing off her individual principles, which hadRead More Liberation in The Awakening and Their Eyes Were Watching God3709 Words   |  15 PagesLiberation in Kate Chopins The Awakening and Zora Neale Hurstons Their Eyes Were Watching God With few exceptions, our male dominated society has traditionally feared, repressed, and stymied the growth of women. As exemplified in history, man has always enjoyed a superior position. According to Genesis in the Old Testament, the fact that man was created first has led to the perception that man should rule. However, since woman was created from man’s rib, there is a strong argument that woman