Racial and gender discrimination--when one race or sex has more power than the other has made a significant amount of impact on our society, ethics, and law. Alice Walker’s novel, The Color Purple, and Zora Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, both contribute to raising awareness and influencing the movement for black feminists. The Color Purple is about an African American woman named Celie, who survives the vigorous abuse from her father and husband, hoping that one day she will reunite with her sister in Africa. While Their Eyes Were Watching God revolves around Janie, a girl of mixed black and white heritage, whose quest is to find true love. Despite having different plots, both books’ themes and character development demonstrate
…show more content…
Throughout Janie’s journey to find true love, she meets Tea Cake, a happy-go-lucky man who treats her as an equal being. As a result, Janie is able to complete her quest and reach the horizon. That being said, Tea Cake gets bit by a rabid dog and becomes ill, senseless, and paranoid to the point where he hides a gun underneath his pillow. Due to his unstable condition, he thinks that Janie is committing adultery and infidelity and tries to shoot her. Cornered, Janie begs to him, "Tea Cake, put down dat gun and go back tuh bed!" (Hurston 184). Nonetheless, she has no choice but to kill her beloved. Although Janie carries blood on her hands, she refuses to mourn. She is able to outweigh the negative thoughts with the things Tea Cake gives to her, like her newfound voice, and so Janie continues to live her life normally-knowing that Tea Cake will always be with her. Her ability to forgive herself and live anew are examples of Janie's strength: that she does not need a dominant figure in her …show more content…
In Janie's second loveless marriage, Jody starts to beat her. Janie is submissive and keeps her mouth shut, obeying his commands. However, when she meets Tea Cake, he helps her to understand her inner desires--the sense of self-discovery. She even told her friend, Phoeby, that "he done taught [her] de maiden language all over" (Hurston 115). As Tea Cake showers Janie with love and respect, he feels that his masculinity was being threatened. As a result, he begins to beat her, to show that he still controls her. Unexpectedly, Janie does not hold any grudge. Each of Janie's failed relationships demonstrates her struggles with finding herself. Janie associates herself with a dominant male figure, like Jody, who tries to shape her into their ideal woman by restricting her speeches and movements. On the other hand, Tea Cake gives her the experience of a mutual relationship. This allows Janie to feel more comfortable with herself and act accordingly to how she feels on the inside. Additionally, she learns how to control her voice and use silence as her
Throughout Janie’s journey to find true love, she meets Tea Cake, a happy-go-lucky man who treats her as an equal being. As a result, Janie is able to complete her quest and reach the horizon. That being said, Tea Cake gets bit by a rabid dog and becomes ill, senseless, and paranoid to the point where he hides a gun underneath his pillow. Due to his unstable condition, he thinks that Janie is committing adultery and infidelity and tries to shoot her. Cornered, Janie begs to him, "Tea Cake, put down dat gun and go back tuh bed!" (Hurston 184). Nonetheless, she has no choice but to kill her beloved. Although Janie carries blood on her hands, she refuses to mourn. She is able to outweigh the negative thoughts with the things Tea Cake gives to her, like her newfound voice, and so Janie continues to live her life normally-knowing that Tea Cake will always be with her. Her ability to forgive herself and live anew are examples of Janie's strength: that she does not need a dominant figure in her …show more content…
In Janie's second loveless marriage, Jody starts to beat her. Janie is submissive and keeps her mouth shut, obeying his commands. However, when she meets Tea Cake, he helps her to understand her inner desires--the sense of self-discovery. She even told her friend, Phoeby, that "he done taught [her] de maiden language all over" (Hurston 115). As Tea Cake showers Janie with love and respect, he feels that his masculinity was being threatened. As a result, he begins to beat her, to show that he still controls her. Unexpectedly, Janie does not hold any grudge. Each of Janie's failed relationships demonstrates her struggles with finding herself. Janie associates herself with a dominant male figure, like Jody, who tries to shape her into their ideal woman by restricting her speeches and movements. On the other hand, Tea Cake gives her the experience of a mutual relationship. This allows Janie to feel more comfortable with herself and act accordingly to how she feels on the inside. Additionally, she learns how to control her voice and use silence as her