Reform, especially in present day politics, is always moderate at best; this logically follows from the internal clash of ideologies in any bureaucracy, especially a bipartisan one like that of the U.S. Even on a more micro scale, it seems that generally, decisions are now always as drastic as they are intended to be as a consequence of external and usually communal influence. This is evident in Zora Neale Hurston 's “Their Eyes Were Watching God”, as Janie Crawford reflects on what she truly desires and attempts to follow her own non conformist path. The novel begins with Janie explaining how in her relationship with her grandmother, she is forced to marry Logan Killiks, as her grandmother believed he could provide her a life of financial
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After Janie makes an error while cooking dinner, Joe reacts impulsively and slaps her: “So gradually, she pressed her teeth together and learned to hush...She wasn’t petal-open with him. She was twenty-four and seven years married when she knew. She found that out one day when he slapped her face in the kitchen” (Hurston 71). Despite acknowledgement that she is emotionally and physically abused, Janie remains with Joe, resolving that she should instead “hush” and remain victim to his attacks. Hurston’s use of syntax in this passage alludes to the internal contradiction Janie feels; the word “she” is repeated to signify Janie’s newfound focus on herself and her own feelings, instead of others. The acceptance Janie feels towards not being “petal-open” with Joe anymore refers to their lack of sexual relations, as earlier in the novel, Hurston metaphorically relates Janie’s sexual awakening with a phallic symbol entering the blossom of a flower. Unfortunately, however, Janie decides to internalize such negativity towards her husband by “press[ing] her teeth together” to keep retaliatory words from escaping her lips. Society’s influence on her actions is highly deducible, as it is extremely unconventional for a woman to speak out against …show more content…
Seemingly, this is bold and freeing because Janie finally sees the relationship she desires in both instances, and she pursues both men. However, it is instead apparent that Janie only takes such actions when she has the encouragement of another person, once more this demonstrates that Janie is always socially dependent to some extent on others. Only when Teacake suggests that the two of them leave to the Everglades does Janie has the courage to leave behind her life with Joe: “‘Folks don’t do nothin down dere except make money and fun and foolishness. We must go dere.’ He drifted off into sleep and Janie looked down on him and felt a self-crushing love. So her soul crawled out from its hiding place” (Hurston 128). Janie had been unsatisfied with her relationship with Joe for years on end, yet, she only leaves the undeniably toxic environment the two initially moved to when Teacake persuades her to. That Janie’s “self-crushing love” for Teacake is primarily why “her soul crawled out from its hiding place” reveals how she cannot follow the aspirations of her own soul without the assistance of another person. This also parallels the motive for which she left Logan, since it was Joe who she fell in love with and followed to Florida when she had been aware of her lack of intimacy with Logan. Thus, Janie’s behavior is consistent in that even in moments of action where she defies
After Janie makes an error while cooking dinner, Joe reacts impulsively and slaps her: “So gradually, she pressed her teeth together and learned to hush...She wasn’t petal-open with him. She was twenty-four and seven years married when she knew. She found that out one day when he slapped her face in the kitchen” (Hurston 71). Despite acknowledgement that she is emotionally and physically abused, Janie remains with Joe, resolving that she should instead “hush” and remain victim to his attacks. Hurston’s use of syntax in this passage alludes to the internal contradiction Janie feels; the word “she” is repeated to signify Janie’s newfound focus on herself and her own feelings, instead of others. The acceptance Janie feels towards not being “petal-open” with Joe anymore refers to their lack of sexual relations, as earlier in the novel, Hurston metaphorically relates Janie’s sexual awakening with a phallic symbol entering the blossom of a flower. Unfortunately, however, Janie decides to internalize such negativity towards her husband by “press[ing] her teeth together” to keep retaliatory words from escaping her lips. Society’s influence on her actions is highly deducible, as it is extremely unconventional for a woman to speak out against …show more content…
Seemingly, this is bold and freeing because Janie finally sees the relationship she desires in both instances, and she pursues both men. However, it is instead apparent that Janie only takes such actions when she has the encouragement of another person, once more this demonstrates that Janie is always socially dependent to some extent on others. Only when Teacake suggests that the two of them leave to the Everglades does Janie has the courage to leave behind her life with Joe: “‘Folks don’t do nothin down dere except make money and fun and foolishness. We must go dere.’ He drifted off into sleep and Janie looked down on him and felt a self-crushing love. So her soul crawled out from its hiding place” (Hurston 128). Janie had been unsatisfied with her relationship with Joe for years on end, yet, she only leaves the undeniably toxic environment the two initially moved to when Teacake persuades her to. That Janie’s “self-crushing love” for Teacake is primarily why “her soul crawled out from its hiding place” reveals how she cannot follow the aspirations of her own soul without the assistance of another person. This also parallels the motive for which she left Logan, since it was Joe who she fell in love with and followed to Florida when she had been aware of her lack of intimacy with Logan. Thus, Janie’s behavior is consistent in that even in moments of action where she defies