Summer Hyche
Manora
EN 350
25 February 2015
TITLE
With the time old tradition of great novels turning into films dates arise the ever so popular questions; “Is the movie as good as the book?” “Did the movie accurately depict the novel?” Depending on the film, some people may answer yes; others, no. Zora Neale Hurston’s novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God” is no different. Her story regarding a young African American woman’s search for herself through different relationships struck Oprah Winfrey so much she decided to turn the classic novel into a movie. However, as always, the film seems to leave out some key points. In Winfrey’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, the lack of importance regarding the pear tree, the sexualization of Janie’s character …show more content…
The idea of a community is essential to Hurston’s novel, and she portrays Janie’s relationships very intensely. As Janie is growing up in the African American community, Hurston makes sure to portray that throughout her novel. In both the novel and the movie, it is obvious that Janie is heavily influenced by those around her. From her grandmother raising her to her multiple husbands, she is not alone in her journey. For example, in the novel after Janie’s grandmother sees her kissing Johnny Taylor, she slaps her then hugs her as she is “suffering and loving and weeping internally for the both of them” (Hurston 14). After they finishing hugging, Janie’s grandmother tells her to “sit in her lap lak [she] used ta” (Hurston 14). In the film, however, after her grandmother slaps her, the two just hug for a while. Although the long hug depicts some sense of closeness, it pales in comparison to the dialogue offered by her grandmother. Hurston illustrates the compassion her grandmother feels toward Janie in what seems to be a beautiful portrayal of tough love. Furthermore, in both the novel and the film, when Janie returns to Eatonville, Pheoby welcomes her home. In the
Manora
EN 350
25 February 2015
TITLE
With the time old tradition of great novels turning into films dates arise the ever so popular questions; “Is the movie as good as the book?” “Did the movie accurately depict the novel?” Depending on the film, some people may answer yes; others, no. Zora Neale Hurston’s novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God” is no different. Her story regarding a young African American woman’s search for herself through different relationships struck Oprah Winfrey so much she decided to turn the classic novel into a movie. However, as always, the film seems to leave out some key points. In Winfrey’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, the lack of importance regarding the pear tree, the sexualization of Janie’s character …show more content…
The idea of a community is essential to Hurston’s novel, and she portrays Janie’s relationships very intensely. As Janie is growing up in the African American community, Hurston makes sure to portray that throughout her novel. In both the novel and the movie, it is obvious that Janie is heavily influenced by those around her. From her grandmother raising her to her multiple husbands, she is not alone in her journey. For example, in the novel after Janie’s grandmother sees her kissing Johnny Taylor, she slaps her then hugs her as she is “suffering and loving and weeping internally for the both of them” (Hurston 14). After they finishing hugging, Janie’s grandmother tells her to “sit in her lap lak [she] used ta” (Hurston 14). In the film, however, after her grandmother slaps her, the two just hug for a while. Although the long hug depicts some sense of closeness, it pales in comparison to the dialogue offered by her grandmother. Hurston illustrates the compassion her grandmother feels toward Janie in what seems to be a beautiful portrayal of tough love. Furthermore, in both the novel and the film, when Janie returns to Eatonville, Pheoby welcomes her home. In the