Ever since the human race has touched pen with paper, millions upon millions of books have been published and distributed. On a sour note, an ever-growing chunk of these novels have been deemed useless with no real meaning. However, as the reader really digs into a novel, one can find a plethora of events, actions, characters, dialogue and themes that pertain to past or present issues buried in the roots of society. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, which documents the protagonist Janie and her quest to find true love, is a tremendous example of a work of literature that falls under this category. Hurston is able to address the devastating effects of wanting to climb up the social status ladder, the denouncing of women, along
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During the time this book was written, America was in a time when whites were inferior and African Americans were forced into slavery, discriminated against, and even killed due to the color of their skin. This is a theme that is brought up numerous times by Hurston, such as “"You got mo’ nerve than me. Ah jus’ couldn’t see mahself married to no black man. It’s too many black folks already. We oughta lighten up de race (Hurston 140). This is commented by no other than Mrs. Turner, a women of mixed descent who worships all things white and strongly speaks out against black individuals. Hurston molds Mrs. Turner into the typical Southern stereotype, one who holds strong racist views and is not afraid to show them. By doing this, the hope is that this will inspire the millions of readers to promote change in the world, with the ultimate goal of equality and the embracing diversity the way one sees today.
Zora Neale Hurston in Their Eyes Were Watching God demonstrates in writing the effects of desiring social change in the community, dehumanizing women, and the tight coils of racism that lied in the hearts of many American during the 1900s. By doing this, this novel is given great purpose and a deep meaning to influence change throughout the many generations of readers that have picked up this book. The value of this cannot be measured. Now, can the critics trying to convince the world this work of literature has no significance be
During the time this book was written, America was in a time when whites were inferior and African Americans were forced into slavery, discriminated against, and even killed due to the color of their skin. This is a theme that is brought up numerous times by Hurston, such as “"You got mo’ nerve than me. Ah jus’ couldn’t see mahself married to no black man. It’s too many black folks already. We oughta lighten up de race (Hurston 140). This is commented by no other than Mrs. Turner, a women of mixed descent who worships all things white and strongly speaks out against black individuals. Hurston molds Mrs. Turner into the typical Southern stereotype, one who holds strong racist views and is not afraid to show them. By doing this, the hope is that this will inspire the millions of readers to promote change in the world, with the ultimate goal of equality and the embracing diversity the way one sees today.
Zora Neale Hurston in Their Eyes Were Watching God demonstrates in writing the effects of desiring social change in the community, dehumanizing women, and the tight coils of racism that lied in the hearts of many American during the 1900s. By doing this, this novel is given great purpose and a deep meaning to influence change throughout the many generations of readers that have picked up this book. The value of this cannot be measured. Now, can the critics trying to convince the world this work of literature has no significance be