Their Eyes Were Watching God - Language: Instrument of Injury and Salvation
There’s no doubt that words are able to boost someone’s confidence, but words also have the power to strip away that confidence. Words that are spoken out loud, or even written on paper have the ability to affect how people feel about themselves and the world. Similarly, in the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, the theme of language in an injurious way is evident when Joe Starks yells at Janie about her age, but language is shown as a tool of salvation when Tea Cake reassures Janie of his love, as well as in the end when Tea Cake tells Janie she’s young at heart.
Firstly, when Joe Starks insults Janie’s appearance this shows the theme of language in an injurious way. In order to make Janie feel bad about herself after she has embarrassed Joe in front of everyone at the store, Joe says this to Janie:
Essentially, Joe is using the power of his words to harm Janie. First, Joe throws Janie’s age in her face. He tells her many times that she is no longer a young, pretty girl, but she is an old woman. Age isn't necessarily always insulting, but the way Joe …show more content…
Janie’s second husband, Mayor Joe Starks, used his words to hurt Janie after she had embarrassed him. Later, Janie accuses her third husband, Tea Cake, of cheating on her and he uses his language to reassure her. In the end, Janie is insulting herself when Tea Cake again uses his language to make her feel better. Janie’s two very different experiences with these two men really highlight the ways language can be used. Language can be used to make someone feel awful, but it can also be used to make someone feel
There’s no doubt that words are able to boost someone’s confidence, but words also have the power to strip away that confidence. Words that are spoken out loud, or even written on paper have the ability to affect how people feel about themselves and the world. Similarly, in the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, the theme of language in an injurious way is evident when Joe Starks yells at Janie about her age, but language is shown as a tool of salvation when Tea Cake reassures Janie of his love, as well as in the end when Tea Cake tells Janie she’s young at heart.
Firstly, when Joe Starks insults Janie’s appearance this shows the theme of language in an injurious way. In order to make Janie feel bad about herself after she has embarrassed Joe in front of everyone at the store, Joe says this to Janie:
Essentially, Joe is using the power of his words to harm Janie. First, Joe throws Janie’s age in her face. He tells her many times that she is no longer a young, pretty girl, but she is an old woman. Age isn't necessarily always insulting, but the way Joe …show more content…
Janie’s second husband, Mayor Joe Starks, used his words to hurt Janie after she had embarrassed him. Later, Janie accuses her third husband, Tea Cake, of cheating on her and he uses his language to reassure her. In the end, Janie is insulting herself when Tea Cake again uses his language to make her feel better. Janie’s two very different experiences with these two men really highlight the ways language can be used. Language can be used to make someone feel awful, but it can also be used to make someone feel