Zora Neale Hurston Analysis

Feeling like an outcast in society while being categorized in a group is assumed to make one feel lesser. Stereotyping and categorizing those who do not fit into society’s norms can impose a sense of bitterness for any differences people may have. Nancy Mairs and Zora Neale Hurston both were considered alien by their society because of their different aspects. Special aspects which differed these women from society both belittled and empowered them. Although society attempted to make these women hate their differences, these women instead embraced their differences to make them accept their differences with pride. Zora Neale Hurston felt a change subside within herself once she had left her hometown. Hurston indicates her society constantly tries to oppress her by labeling her or reminding her that she is a descendant from slaves. She states, “I shall get twice as much praise or twice as much blame”(Hurston 13). This quote the emphasizes that her society will think lesser of her for making a mistake and blame it on her ethnicity. Also, Hurston must work for belongings and success, while those who are white …show more content…
Maris still has the ability to laugh at herself, even when falling backward into a toilet. She indicates that she does not diminish her value in being handicapped. Her ability to still maintain a teaching job even with her disability shows that she is not allowing this illness to define her. Her disability does not limit her from living her life, for she is able to raise children, work, worship, and more. Her disabled body does not mean she envies those who are able bodied, rather she not does she wish to change herself. Maris even gained an aspect in which she is glad to have gained, and that is gentleness. She sees herself as getting use to her disability and would not wish it upon anyone, but will continue on for she is “getting the hang of it” (Mairs