- Gender Roles and Relations. …
- Voice, Language and Storytelling. …
- Desire, Love, and Independence. …
- Power, Judgment, and Jealousy. …
- Race and Racism.
What themes did Zora Neale Hurston write about?
The stories tell about
faith, love, family, slavery, race and community
. They also include humor. Hurston was well known for her writing. She also became known for her outspoken opinions, her clothing and the great pride she had in herself and her race.
How does the title Their Eyes Were Watching God capture some of the main themes of the book?
—the title implies
that nothing is earned by Janie
in the book: her happiness and sorrow is all God's doing. Her eyes then look to God, wondering what he'll bring into her life next.
Who is Janie's first husband?
Logan Killicks
– Logan is Janie's first husband, a product of an arranged marriage by Janie's grandmother (Nanny). Logan seemed to be an excellent husband for Janie because he owned his own property and was well-known and respected throughout the community. Logan, however, treated Janie more as a slave than a wife and …
What is the theme of Their Eyes Were Watching God?
The most prevalent themes in Their Eyes Were Watching God involve
Janie's search for unconditional, true, and fulfilling love
. She experiences different kinds of love throughout her life.
What does Janie's hair symbolize?
Janie's hair is a
symbol of her power and unconventional identity
; it represents her strength and individuality in three ways. … Third, her hair, because of its straightness, functions as a symbol of whiteness; Mrs. Turner worships Janie because of her straight hair and other Caucasian characteristics.
Who is Janie's true love?
193) Janie finally found real love with her marriage to
Tea Cake
. Although at the beginning of the book Janie was naïve about love, she learned through her three marriages many lessons about love, including the major lesson, that love actually existed. Janie's view of love was of the pear tree.
What made Zora Neale Hurston unique?
Zora Hurston was a world-renowned writer and anthropologist. Hurston's
novels, short stories
, and plays often depicted African American life in the South. Her work in anthropology examined black folklore.
What impact did Zora Neale Hurston have?
Zora Neale Hurston became a fixture of New York City's
Harlem Renaissance
, due to her novels like Their Eyes Were Watching God and shorter works like “Sweat.” She was also an outstanding folklorist and anthropologist who recorded cultural history, as illustrated by her Mules and Men.
How did Zora Neale Hurston impact society?
Zora Neale Hurston made
contributions to the acceptance of African Americans in society
through her noteworthy folklore writing. … Zora Neale Hurston had notable success in the North, but it would be an arduous task to raise awareness of African life and improve race relations in the South due to discrimination.
How did Joe treat Janie?
How does Joe Starks treat Janie? Joe Starks treats Janie well in some ways:
He builds her a big house and gives her nice clothes
, and she gets the respect due to the wife of the mayor. However, Joe is also very domineering and jealous. He makes Janie cover her hair so other men can't see it.
How does Janie define love?
At first, Janie
stereotyped love into something untouchable
. … Love is unfathomable, you can't explain it or define it. You can only experience it for yourself. Although, she keeps the pear tree blossom in her thoughts throughout her journey of finding love in herself and others.
How does Janie feel after tea cake dies?
She doesn't. Tea Cake dies in her arms, still hateful and
biting down on Janie's forearm
. She weeps over his body and silently thanks him for giving her the chance to love. … The entire black community is set against her; they feel like she has betrayed Tea Cake.
Who was Janie's best husband?
Vergible “Tea Cake” Woods
is the best of Janie's three husbands in terms of her personal development. He represents the possibility of a black life that is not one of slavery (either to whites or economic necessity) nor one of assimilation, but of an authentic and independent life.
Who was Janie's third husband?
Tea Cake
(Vergible Woods) – Tea Cake is Janie's third and final husband, and the only husband she actually loved.
Why did Janie hate her grandmother?
In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie hates her grandmother
for raising her to value things over people
. The old woman was obsessed with instilling into her granddaughter the importance of material wealth and high social status.
