Janie’s Relationship to the Black Communities in: Their Eyes Were Watching God.
The following essay will examine the relationship between Janie and the three different black communities in Zora Neale Hurston’s novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” In this story the reader is confronted with the protagonist Janie who searches for the one and true love and therefore marries three completely different types of men. Two of her husbands also influence the relationship to the other black people living around her.
First of all the relationship between the protagonist and the community where she grew up shall be examined, then between her as the wife of the mayor Joe Starks and the people living in Eatonville and at last the relationship to society in the Everglades where Janie lived and worked together with her third husband, Tea Cake.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Janie's Relationship to the Black Communities
- Janie and the Community Where She Grew Up
- Janie and Eatonville
- Janie and the Everglades Community
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay will examine Janie's relationships with the three distinct black communities in Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God." The focus is on how Janie's experiences within these communities are shaped by her marriages and the expectations placed upon her as a black woman in the American South during the early 20th century.
- The influence of social expectations and racial dynamics on Janie's experiences.
- The role of Janie's husbands in shaping her interactions with different communities.
- Janie's search for self-discovery and true love within the context of these communities.
- The evolving dynamics of Janie's relationship with her own identity and her place within these communities.
- The intersection of gender, race, and social class in shaping Janie's journey.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The essay begins by analyzing Janie's childhood experiences in her home community, where she faces prejudice and social isolation due to her mixed-race heritage. This initial encounter with prejudice influences her perspective on social hierarchies and sets the stage for her later struggles with conformity and self-expression. The essay then explores Janie's marriage to Joe Starks, the mayor of Eatonville, and how his ambition and desire for social status contribute to her isolation within the community. Finally, the essay examines Janie's relationship with Tea Cake in the Everglades, emphasizing how their connection fosters a sense of belonging and allows her to experience true love and acceptance within a community where she feels valued and respected.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The essay examines key concepts of race, gender, social class, and identity as they intersect in Janie's experiences within the different black communities in "Their Eyes Were Watching God." Themes include community dynamics, social expectations, power structures, love, marriage, self-discovery, and the search for belonging. This analysis highlights the complexities of navigating racial and social hierarchies within the context of rural Southern life, and how these dynamics shape Janie's journey towards self-realization.
- Quote paper
- Kerstin Köck (Author), 2007, Janie’s Relationship to the Black Communities in Zora Neale Hurston’s novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1215036
