Powerful Symbols in Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora...

Powerful Symbols in Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston In 1937, upon the first publication of Their Eyes Were Watching God, the most influential black writer of his time, Richard Wright, stated that the novel carries no theme, no message, [and] no thought. Wrights powerful critique epitomized a nations attitude toward Zora Neale Hurstons second novel. African-American critics read a book that they felt satisfied the white mans stereotype of African-American culture and the humor which Caucasians saw in that prejudice. However, those critics and most of America overlooked the wonderful use of imagery, symbolism, and thematic application of one African-American females journey into womanhood and†¦show more content†¦She apparently understands and appreciates the fertilization and procreation in nature and the beauty of the process. Immediately following this episode, Janie fulfills her sexual urge by kissing Johnny Taylor over the fence. Nanny catches Janie in the act and forces Janie into womanhood by arranging her marriage to u nattractive landowner Logan Killicks. Throughout the entire novel, Janie refers to the blossoming pear tree as a symbol of her ideal relationship, and compares her husbands to the harmony she witnessed between the bees and the blossoms of the pear tree. Janie sees the vision of Logan to be à ¬desecrating the pear tree,à ® as she does not love the man at all (13). On the contrary, she finds her true love in her marriage to Tea Cake, who à ¬could be a bee to a blossom Ãâ€" Crushing aromatic herbs with every step he tookà ® (102). As the pear tree is symbolic of Janies sexual epiphany and her ideal relationship, it also coincides with her quest for her true love. Her pear blossom wilts with her marriage to Logan Killicks, but it blooms again in another cycle with Tea Cake. Moreover, the reappearance of a gate prior to a critical life change is also symbolic to Janies quest for self-identity. In general, gates tend to be associated with new steps or episodes of life, and in Their Eyes Were Watching God Hurston often has JanieShow MoreRelatedGender Roles in Their Eyes Were Watching God1087 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Gender Roles in Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God During the 1900’s, women, specifically black women, were considered to be property of men in the United States, especially down south, in states such as Florida and Georgia. Legally, women had no voice. For example, if a woman was abused by her husband, the court system would not acknowledge it even if it did really happen. In the article â€Å"Sexism in the Early 1900’s†, Becca Woltemath states that â€Å"†¦a woman’s job is to take care of the houseRead MoreZora Neale Hurston A Genius of the South Essay1664 Words   |  7 PagesZora Neale Hurston is a trailblazer. Back then people ridiculed her, but she felt the pride and dignity within herself. 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Hourston grew up in this culturally affirming setting due to her father’s mentality, despite frequent confrontations with her preacher-father, she lived a happy childhood. Her father was said to crush her â€Å"wild† spirit and later influence her views on life. Her mother, on the other hand, urged Hurston and her siblings to jump at de sun. Hurston explained, We mightRead MoreTheir Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurston1078 Words   |  5 PagesIn the novel, Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston there are many hidden symbols. The most important and strongest is the horizon, a glorious symbol portraying Janie’s dream, a lifelong search for true love and happiness. The horizon is created through Janie’s tough experiences seeking to find the future. Hurston suggests, She searched as much of the world she could and leaned over to gaze up and down the road. Looking, waiting, breathing short with impatience. Waiting for the worldRead MoreCommunication Is The Connection Of Our Society2922 Words   |  12 Pagesour society though fashion, media, etc. Symbolism and symbols are either used or somehow shaped in our everyday lives of literature. Defining symbolism; is the use of symbols to carry ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their actual sense; generally, people think symbols are just giving objects with life like meanings on a deeper level and understanding, which is true but, it’s how you give each symbol its meaning, and how it relate to your life. AccordingRead More Colorism: Creating a Racial Divide in the African American Community1920 Words   |  8 PagesDuring the mid-twentieth century African Americans were at the lowermost tier of societys hierarchy. However within th e black race, there was a further social division between lighter-skinned and darker-skinned African Americans. A black individual with more Caucasian features signified high status and beauty which was sought after by members of the African American community (Dibleck). In Zora Neale Hurstons novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, the author uses Janie Crawford to depict how colorismRead More Searching for an Inner-Self in Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston11392 Words   |  46 PagesSearching for an Inner-Self in Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston In the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston a young girl named Janie begins her life unknown to herself. She searches for the horizon as it illustrates the distance one must travel in order to distinguish between illusion and reality, dream and truth, role and self? (Hemenway 75). She is unaware of life?s two most precious gifts: love and the truth. Janie is raised by her suppressive grandmotherRead MoreThe Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurston925 Words   |  4 Pagesparticular symbol and how I believe it is to be presented throughout the narrative. In the case of Their Eyes Were Watching God, I recognized that Janie’s hair would have a significant place in the themes of the novel. Within the opening paragraphs, Janie stares at herself in a picture and her identity arises from her hair â€Å"seen it was mah dress and mah hair† Her identity then shifts to the color of her skin â€Å"Aw, aw! Ah’m colored!† (9), however the sy mbolism of her hair would be more powerful than the