Gloria Steinem, a famous feminist, associated the saying, “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle”(Dunn) with the movement for female equality. It is very relevant to the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston where the main character Janie is shown in two main relationships. One with her male husband, Jody, where she is taken advantage of and controlled and another one with her friend Phoeby. Through juxtaposing Jody and Janie’s marriage and Phoeby and Janie’s friendship, Hurston suggests that heterosexual marriages serve to disempower and silence women, while female friendships empower women to tell their stories.
In her relationship with Jody, Janie was completely silenced. At a ceremony for Eatonville, in the …show more content…
When Janie returns back to Eatonville she trusts her friend Pheoby to, “tell ‘em what Ah say if you wants to. Dat’s just de same as me ‘cause mah tongue is in mah friend’s mouf”(6). Over the years Janie has learned to trust Phoeby and it shows. She knows that although if Phoeby wanted to when she goes to tell the porch about Janie’s story that she could alter it any way she pleases.. After Jody dies and Janie starts seeing Tea Cake, Phoeby is asked her opinion on Janie’s relationship and explains, “she kin do as she please”(111). Doing the completely opposite of Jody Phoeby knows that she cannot control another person’s life. After hearing Janie’s story Phoeby discovers she, “ ain’t satisfied wid [her]self no mo’. [She] means tuh make Sam take [her] fishin’ wid him after this”(192). Janie explains her full story Phoeby and completely changes Phoeby’s view on her life. Janie inspires Phoeby to take advantage of her life. Janie and Phoeby’s relationship gave Janie the opportunity for her to share her true story and empower Phoeby.
Hurston reveals that heterosexual marriages can keep a woman silent, while female relationships can inspire women with their stories, through the Juxtaposition of Jody and Janie’s marriage and Janie and Phoeby’s friendship. In the story Janie is silenced by Jody, however in contrast Janie and Phoeby’s relationship gives Janie a chance to share her story. Hurston in the
In her relationship with Jody, Janie was completely silenced. At a ceremony for Eatonville, in the …show more content…
When Janie returns back to Eatonville she trusts her friend Pheoby to, “tell ‘em what Ah say if you wants to. Dat’s just de same as me ‘cause mah tongue is in mah friend’s mouf”(6). Over the years Janie has learned to trust Phoeby and it shows. She knows that although if Phoeby wanted to when she goes to tell the porch about Janie’s story that she could alter it any way she pleases.. After Jody dies and Janie starts seeing Tea Cake, Phoeby is asked her opinion on Janie’s relationship and explains, “she kin do as she please”(111). Doing the completely opposite of Jody Phoeby knows that she cannot control another person’s life. After hearing Janie’s story Phoeby discovers she, “ ain’t satisfied wid [her]self no mo’. [She] means tuh make Sam take [her] fishin’ wid him after this”(192). Janie explains her full story Phoeby and completely changes Phoeby’s view on her life. Janie inspires Phoeby to take advantage of her life. Janie and Phoeby’s relationship gave Janie the opportunity for her to share her true story and empower Phoeby.
Hurston reveals that heterosexual marriages can keep a woman silent, while female relationships can inspire women with their stories, through the Juxtaposition of Jody and Janie’s marriage and Janie and Phoeby’s friendship. In the story Janie is silenced by Jody, however in contrast Janie and Phoeby’s relationship gives Janie a chance to share her story. Hurston in the