Their Eyes Were Watching God Feminist Analysis

Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God helps us envision the struggles and battles of oppression of an African American woman, named Janie, during the turn of the century. As Janie strives for happiness and love we are provided with multiple examples abuse, disrespect and tyranny on behave of her own individuality, goals and dreams. Not only do we see that Janie was extremely disrespected but also misconceived on their roles in the social ladder in a severe patriarchal society. Janie’s upbringing is seen to be what causes distraught and unhappiness with her future relationships. The one person who is responsible for this is Nanny, Janie’s grandmother. From a young age Nanny instills the mindset that Janie’s only way to survive

Logan views his wife the same as Nanny; every woman is to cook, clean and support their husbands whenever needed. There is a social standard for women to just be maids or housewives and it is ridiculous for them to aspire to be anything greater than that. Logan wants to further oppress his wife by turning her into a slave. He wants her to do all the things in the house and also help plow the field “Ah aims tuh run two plows, and dis man Ah'm talkin"bout is got uh mule all gentled up so even uh woman kin handle 'im." Logan doesn’t see a woman he’s married to he just see another worker to help with his daily chores and since she is a women there is no way she could ever handle a sturdy brute mule, hence that it is shown that she a gentle and delicate mule that only a women could use. Since divorce was not an option for women back in those it was either stay and possibly be killed by Logan or get up enough courage to run off and that’s where Mr. Joe comes into

In the story, Joe states “A pretty doll-baby lak you is made to sit on de front porch and rock and fan yo'self and eat p'taters dat other folks plant just special for you." From the beginning of their relationship Joe notices that Janies beauty is the biggest source of power. Joe denies her any chance of individuality by making her cover her hair or a chance to socialize; he keeps her locked up either in the house or the store with busy work where she is only as useful as an animal. Another example where we see Joe oppress Janie’s voice is at the town meeting where people want Janie to speak but Joe quickly puts a end to it by that it illustrates that women didn’t have a voice during those times. Women were to be seen not heard for they were seen as uneducated and to talk amongst men was ludacris. Janie begins to take a stand for herself against Joe’s constant control on her life, we see that she is gaining power and control of her own life even so its only for a short period of time. She is becoming her own women with her own ideas and unique personality. Even then, on his death bed Joe blames Janie for his soon to come death. Janie, of course, mourns but is liberated and freed from the shackles that Joe has placed on her for so many