Their Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurston

It is appalling the way women have been treated subordinately throughout history. It is seen through advertisement, literature, and other forms of works, that women have always been lesser to men. However, it is men that oppress and influence women. Authors like Zora Neale Hurston and other vocal women have shown through their works how devastating to women, men can be. The way women have been treated throughout history has influenced their thoughts, feelings, and actions alike.

Mens actions can affect how women think. This can be shown through literature; it is seen in the book, Their Eyes Were Watching God. In the book the main character, Janie, struggles with men her whole life. Therefore, her struggle with men influences how she thinks

As referenced earlier, this can be seen in, Their Eyes Were Watching God. In the text Janie marries Joe Starks, a wealthy and powerful man. As their relationship grows old, so does Joe’s love. He starts to play with Janie’s feelings. For example, “He didn’t really hate Janie, but he wanted her to think so” (Hurston 77). As you can see, Joe lied to Janie, he made her feel low and worthless; he made her think she was that way. Furthermore, the poem, “Verses Written by a Young Lady, on Women Born to be Controll’d”, is also a perfect example of male influence. The poem states, “That I may cheerfully your will obey” (Anonymous 20). In the women’s lifetime she has learned to listen to men; she will force a feeling of cheerfulness while obeying. The man has influenced her to obey and act happy. Additionally, even in advertisement mens influence can be seen. In the ad the woman is smiling and seems happy to be serving her husband just because of a tie he chose to wear. The tie ad even quotes,”...power-packed patterns that tell her it’s a man’s world” (Van Heusen 1951). Basically, him wearing a tie is influencing her to be happy. This only furthers my thesis that throughout history men have been the major influence on women’s feelings; however, men’s actions also influence women’s