K00613900
Janie Crawford: Mule of the World, or Strong Independent Woman?
In Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes were Watching God, she explores the dichotomy between defining one’s individuality and conforming to society’s roles and norms. Throughout the novel, we see how the character Janie grows as a person with each relationship she finds herself in. Each person Janie encounters, changes her perspective on herself as well as the world around her. However, these experiences create a fluctuation in her character of whether to conform to or diverge from the stereotypical assumptions that underlie men’s attitudes toward her and women during the time period. In many ways, Janie seems to act like a typical woman of her time. In various sections …show more content…
Throughout Their Eyes were Watching God, Janie is always striving to reach her seemingly unattainable horizon instead of settling and remaining complacent. Each relationship Janie comes across slowly transforms her from an innocent go with the flow girl to a strong and independent woman. With this in mind, one can see that Hurston intended to characterize Janie as someone who keeps growing in search of their independence, qualities not seen in many women during the …show more content…
Unlike many women at the time, Janie did not want to just be coddled and protected; her perfect relationship was one which encompassed respect, dignity, and most importantly love. This can be seen in her last and most perfect relationship with Tea Cake, Janie is treated as an equal unlike in her previous marriages. When they first met, Tea Cake un-expectantly wanted to play checkers with Janie, as if “it natural for her to play” (69). Unlike Tea Cake, Joe forbid Janie from playing the game with him or with other men because it was just another away he could exert his control over Janie. For Janie, the arrival of Tea Cake signifies the beginning of her personal freedom and
Janie Crawford: Mule of the World, or Strong Independent Woman?
In Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes were Watching God, she explores the dichotomy between defining one’s individuality and conforming to society’s roles and norms. Throughout the novel, we see how the character Janie grows as a person with each relationship she finds herself in. Each person Janie encounters, changes her perspective on herself as well as the world around her. However, these experiences create a fluctuation in her character of whether to conform to or diverge from the stereotypical assumptions that underlie men’s attitudes toward her and women during the time period. In many ways, Janie seems to act like a typical woman of her time. In various sections …show more content…
Throughout Their Eyes were Watching God, Janie is always striving to reach her seemingly unattainable horizon instead of settling and remaining complacent. Each relationship Janie comes across slowly transforms her from an innocent go with the flow girl to a strong and independent woman. With this in mind, one can see that Hurston intended to characterize Janie as someone who keeps growing in search of their independence, qualities not seen in many women during the …show more content…
Unlike many women at the time, Janie did not want to just be coddled and protected; her perfect relationship was one which encompassed respect, dignity, and most importantly love. This can be seen in her last and most perfect relationship with Tea Cake, Janie is treated as an equal unlike in her previous marriages. When they first met, Tea Cake un-expectantly wanted to play checkers with Janie, as if “it natural for her to play” (69). Unlike Tea Cake, Joe forbid Janie from playing the game with him or with other men because it was just another away he could exert his control over Janie. For Janie, the arrival of Tea Cake signifies the beginning of her personal freedom and