Analysis Of Janie In Their Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurston

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By looking at how Janie in Hurson’s novel is searching for her autonomy and self-determination as a black female in Eatonville and how Lutie in Petry’s novel is battling for survival against racism 0and the monstrous attitude of men along the streets of Harlem, I argue that it is harder for African American women to strive for success in urban areas than in rural areas.
Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God is a text richly endowed with meaning and purpose which uses poetic language and folkloric imagery to convey its messages. In this story of a black woman’s search for identity, the main character, Janie, suffers through two unfulfilling marriages to oppressive, materialistic men, who “squinch” her spirit until she meets Tea Cake, …show more content…

Janie steps down from her pedestal to enter a relationship with Tea Cake, but she steps into one built on reciprocity rather than hierarchy. In teaching Janie to play checkers, to shoot, and to drive, and in inviting her to work alongside of him, Tea Cake breaks down the rigid gender definitions that Joe sought to impose. Janie continues to use her voice and her relationship with Tea Cake progresses. Because she is in a give-and-take relationship and she has joined a community on the muck, Janie experiences the freedom of speaking her mind. Hurston emphasizes the joy of this ability to communicate by writing: "Only here, she could listen and laugh and even talk some herself if she wanted to" (Hurson, …show more content…

The author has clearly pictured the fate of single women in the streets of Harlem in this novel. The characterization of Lutie is made very strong by Ann Petry as the protagonist strives hard to maintain sanity despite the threats of racism, sexism and gender inequalities. She feels nobody can live a decent life in the street and somehow they will turn evil at one point in time. “And Lutie thought no one could live on a street like this and stay decent. It would get them sooner or later, for it sucked the humanity out of the people – slowly, surely, inevitably” (Petry, 229). The phrase “sucked the humanity” is used aptly as the roots of decent behavior originates from humanity and when that is at stake, the behavior of people definitely turns monstrous. The streets of Harlem turn her into a murderer in order to maintain her ethics of living and also make her forego her son who is in a children’s

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    The Towns people and Janie’s best friend Pheoby are skeptical of Tea Cake’s intentions. They think Tea Cake is after Janie’s money and widowhood. However, Janie explains to Pheoby, “Tea Cake ain’t draggin me off nowhere Ah don’t want tuh go. Ah always did want tuh git round uh whole heap, but Jody wouldn’t ‘low me tuh. When Ah wasn’t in de store he wanted me tuh jes sit wid folded hand and sit dere.” Janie admitted her desire to get up and go wherever she pleased. Joe, however, did not want his woman to be wise or conscious of the world around them so he kept her confined and immobile in the store. Janie loved Tea Cake because he was not threatened by her desire to be adventurous. Janie loved the fact that Tea Cake treated her with class as an equal and intelligent person. “He set it (the checkers) up and began to show her and she found herself glowing inside. Somebody wanted her to play. Somebody thought it natural for her to play.” Tea Cake proved he was not self-absorbed like Logan or Joe. He presented Janie with a chance to finally experience the love she has been pursuing her entire life. Janie had only known men who took pleasure in pleasing themselves; however, Tea Cake took pleasure in pleasing her. This endeared him to her and brought them mutual happiness. Janie loved Tea Cake because he was open with her. He was determined to do anything to please her if he saw she was unhappy. Unlike Logan and Joe,

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