Jenny Youm
Their Eyes Were Watching God – Topic 2
American Literature
14 July 2014 While lying down underneath a blossoming pear tree, Janie notices a bee pollinating a pear blossom. She describes it as a sexual experience and imagines that would be what love and marriage would be like. The tree and the bee serve as important symbolism throughout the book. The pear tree represents a female whose sexual and emotional desires need to be fulfilled. The bee represents a male who gives those desires whether they are wanted or not. She ends up kissing a boy named Johnny Taylor due to being in the romantic pear tree daze. After Nanny scolds her for kissing a trifling youth, Janie tries her best to find the “true love” she has imagined since seeing …show more content…
She feels that words always have some kind of sincerity and virtue behind them. She learned how to speak out from her grandmother. Since her grandmother was born during the time colored people were slaves, she had a difficult time of speaking out. She then encouraged Janie to speak for herself while others are listening. Janie had learned to keep quiet after she married Joe Starks. Whenever he insulted her, she did not talk back to him and kept silent. When Starks was named mayor and gave a speech, Janie was also welcomed to make a speech. However, before she could speak a word, Starks cut her off and said she did not know how to make a speech since she was a woman. He stated that a woman’s place was in the house. When a few men were having a conversation about Matt Bonner’s mule, Janie wanted to join in with interesting stories. Starks forbid her to join the conversation because he did not want her talking after “such trashy people.” She kept quiet throughout the whole conversation, but towards the end, she said something to Starks that made everyone else impressed with how well she spoke. She was the new talk of the town and everyone changed their impression of her. However, as her long marriage with Starks worsens, Janie’s voice disappears …show more content…
Instead of watching other people as God, she watches the actual God or “Ole Massa” as they call Him in the novel. As the hurricane is causing chaos outside the house, Janie thinks to herself that “the time was past for asking the white folks what to look for through that door.” It was at that time and she believed she was watching the right God. However, watching the right God did not mean she was free from any danger. She also suffered through the hurricane with Tea Cake, and even ended up losing her own husband due to the chaotic hurricane. After losing her husband and travelling back to Eatonville, she realizes that “Ole Massa” is the only one who can control the fate of others. He is the only one who can bring people happiness and sorrow. Janie’s then wonders what God will bring into her life
Their Eyes Were Watching God – Topic 2
American Literature
14 July 2014 While lying down underneath a blossoming pear tree, Janie notices a bee pollinating a pear blossom. She describes it as a sexual experience and imagines that would be what love and marriage would be like. The tree and the bee serve as important symbolism throughout the book. The pear tree represents a female whose sexual and emotional desires need to be fulfilled. The bee represents a male who gives those desires whether they are wanted or not. She ends up kissing a boy named Johnny Taylor due to being in the romantic pear tree daze. After Nanny scolds her for kissing a trifling youth, Janie tries her best to find the “true love” she has imagined since seeing …show more content…
She feels that words always have some kind of sincerity and virtue behind them. She learned how to speak out from her grandmother. Since her grandmother was born during the time colored people were slaves, she had a difficult time of speaking out. She then encouraged Janie to speak for herself while others are listening. Janie had learned to keep quiet after she married Joe Starks. Whenever he insulted her, she did not talk back to him and kept silent. When Starks was named mayor and gave a speech, Janie was also welcomed to make a speech. However, before she could speak a word, Starks cut her off and said she did not know how to make a speech since she was a woman. He stated that a woman’s place was in the house. When a few men were having a conversation about Matt Bonner’s mule, Janie wanted to join in with interesting stories. Starks forbid her to join the conversation because he did not want her talking after “such trashy people.” She kept quiet throughout the whole conversation, but towards the end, she said something to Starks that made everyone else impressed with how well she spoke. She was the new talk of the town and everyone changed their impression of her. However, as her long marriage with Starks worsens, Janie’s voice disappears …show more content…
Instead of watching other people as God, she watches the actual God or “Ole Massa” as they call Him in the novel. As the hurricane is causing chaos outside the house, Janie thinks to herself that “the time was past for asking the white folks what to look for through that door.” It was at that time and she believed she was watching the right God. However, watching the right God did not mean she was free from any danger. She also suffered through the hurricane with Tea Cake, and even ended up losing her own husband due to the chaotic hurricane. After losing her husband and travelling back to Eatonville, she realizes that “Ole Massa” is the only one who can control the fate of others. He is the only one who can bring people happiness and sorrow. Janie’s then wonders what God will bring into her life