Their eyes were watching god follows the life of janie crawford, a girl of mixed black and white heritage, around the. According to claire crabtree, there are four major aspects. Free essay on symbols in their eyes were watching god. Their eyes were watching god analytical essay essays. Pear tree the pear tree represents janies blossoming sexuality and maturity, her increasing interest in love and romance, and her idealistic views toward them the horizon the store example pg. These metaphors, not only constitute a big part of the story but they also show janies journey through marriage, and her resulting character as a selfaware, confident and balanced.
Their eyes were watching god opens with the motif of wishing or dreaming. The folklore elements were so well immersed that they could easily go unnoticed. The most important symbol in their eyes were watching god is the pear tree. Mule symbol in their eyes were watching god litcharts. This motif also appears in earlier parts of the novel, as the narrator explains that the.
Again, the mule symbolizes joes ownership of janie. A humorous incident involving a mule serves to confirm. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. This parallels how women were treated in the 1920s. The episode of matt bonners yellow mule was borrowed from the opera mule bone. Powerful symbols in their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston in 1937, upon the first publication of their eyes were watching god, the most influential black writer of his time, richard wright, stated that the novel carries no theme, no message, and no thought. She explains to janie that throughout history african american women have been forced to work similar to mules. Their eyes were watching god symbols flashcards quizlet. Symbols in their eyes were watching god in zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god, many different symbols are used to express janies longing for love and acceptance. Mules symbolize that women like janie are treated badly, and that they are treated little better than animals. Hurston was an african american author, born in eatonville, florida on january 7, 1891. The mule in their eyes within the novel, their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston, there are several inanimate objects which relate to the development of the main character but also the overall story. Just as the mule has been starved from food, janie has been denied love and affection from joe. A summary of chapter 6 in zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god.
She wrote their eyes were watching god in seven weeks, which was published on september 18, 1937. They were not respected by men, just as animals were not always treated with respect by their owners. The sun is also a symbol in their eyes were watching god. The importance of speech and humor in zora neale hurstons their. Gate symbolism in their eyes were watching god by jessica. Janies life was often related and compared to a mule s life, because she was a hardworking, oppressed and.
The mule serves to symbolize janie and her struggle with joe. Vodou in their eyes were watching god linkedin slideshare. Mules are used to represent the role of women in the world and then changes to represent jody. Janie runs the store, which serves as a kind of community center in zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god. When the men torture the animal, the mule fights, but the men only tease him more. The long and narrow shape of a rope fits perfectly into the phallus symbols describing the male genitalia, despite the hair being on janie, a woman. The most prominent five of these are the pear tree, janies hair, the horizon, death, and the hurricane. Welcome to our informational page about the novel their eyes were watching god, by the excellent author zora neale hurston.
Symbols in their eyes were watching god essay 730 words cram. The men make snide comments about the mule and never acknowledge all of the hard work it does. Imagery and symbolism in their eyes were watching god. Symbols formalistic approach on their eyes were watching god. A symbol is an object in a literary piece that represents something deeper. Jan 08, 2009 their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston. Perhaps the most prominent symbol in the novel is the blossoming pear tree. In nannys eyes, the mule represents the literal and metaphorical enslavement of african american women. The horizon, the pear tree, the protagonists hair, and the hurricane in their eyes were watching. Symbolism in their eyes were watching god zora neale hurston underscores her timeless classic, their eyes were watching god with several important symbols. At the store, the townspeople while away the hours telling stories and teasing each other. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one.
The mule in their eyes were watching god schoolworkhelper. Their eyes were watching god perfectly combines folklore and literature in the theme of black and female empowerment. We follow janie as she searches to find her true identity. Celie starts writing letters to god which unfold into a series of plot elements over a span of thirty years as the teen crucially develops into a woman. As author neal hurston introduces new characters into janies life, one of her attributes seems to have an effect on all of them, this being janies. This website was written by kalley lichty, michael engel, hannah gerry, and heather kelly for northwestern colleges introduction to literature class. Jun 14, 2011 celie starts writing letters to god which unfold into a series of plot elements over a span of thirty years as the teen crucially develops into a woman. On page two, janies hair is compared to a great rope. It occurs the most often, and more importantly, it is the most important to janie. The mule symbolizes mistreatment and cruelty, especially of women. The horizon is the most important symbol in their eyes were watching god. Symbolism of trees in their eyes were watching god essayszora neale hurston uses symbols throughout the novel to explain events, rather than sating them. Their eyes were watching god, although having a remarkably moving story line uses many poetic elements, particularly, two metaphors.
For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is. Haurykiewicz zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god is a text richly endowed with meaning and purpose which uses poetic language and folkloric imagery to convey its messages. Our teacher edition on their eyes were watching god can help. In this chapter, much of the conversation among the porch sitters centers on matt bonners helpless mule. She interprets many important aspects of life and turns these events into symbols throughout their eyes were watching god. Hurston mentions this symbol repeatedly throughout the novel. Motif of a mule in there eyes were watching god essay sample. Janie despises working at the store, only looking forward to the entertaining stories and chats of the people sitting on the porch. In their eyes were watching god, what animals show up at the.
This website revolves around the novel their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston. The their eyes were watching god quotes below all refer to the symbol of mule. Symbolism in their eyes were watching god essay example. For instance, theres the long and judgmental critique of matt bonners old yellow mule, which after many pages of. Learn about the different symbols such as pear tree in their eyes were watching god and how they contribute to the plot of the book. In the novel their eyes were watching god, the author, zora neale hurston uses a technique called symbolism with the characters to create a story.
The fact that janie learns to shoot effectively shows her crossing into decidedly male territory in an attempt to empower herself. Role of vodou symbolism in their eyes were watching god zora neal hurstons most popular novel, their eyes were watching god, was written during the seven weeks that the author lived in haiti, researching and participating in haitian vodou practice. This lesson focuses on the mule in their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston. Lamp posts are also a reference to the bible in that god is the one that brings light to the community. Their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston. The town holds a funeral for the mule, and joe gives a great speech. Their eyes were watching god informational wiki about the. So when we looked at the picture and everybody got pointed out there wasnt nobody left except a real dark little girl with long hair standing by eleanor. In the first quote, hurston in many ways accuses blacks of looking to whites to learn what their futures hold.
Their eyes were watching god follows the life of janie crawford, a girl of mixed black and white heritage around the turn of the century. Janie is very beautiful and innocent to the ways of men and sexuality. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of their eyes were watching god and what it means. Zora neale hurston uses the sixth chapter of their eyes were watching god not to perpetuate the immediate plot, but to add further commentary on the position of african americans, women, and janie herself. Throughout the chapter, janies actions and jodys reactions are mirrored by matt and his yellow mule, and then by jody and the mule. Gate symbolism meaning and importance third instance meaning and importance quote. Symbolism in zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god. The familiar people and things had failed her so she hung over the gate and looked up the road towards way off. These inanimate objects reflect several aspects of the setting and of the time period in general.
In their eyes were watching god, how does the image. Their eyes were watching god chapter 6 summary course hero. Mar, 2007 janie protests and so her husband, joe, buys the mule from matt. Through her symbols of the pear tree, horizon, janies hair, the mule, and the devastating hurricane, readers get a glimpse of the characters lives, struggles, and traits which all lead to the real meaning of the story. To much surprise, janies hair is a prominent phallic symbol in their eyes were watching god. Their eyes were watching god symbolism help needed. Symbols freudian approach to their eyes were watching god. The mule is talked about in disrespectful language and is physically abused. In their eyes were watching god, there is a lot of symbolism, used especially to represent feelings, thoughts, points of view and even the own lives of the main characters. Matt bonner and his yellow mule are constantly teased, and the men on the porch mock how matt abuses the mule as a work.
Falzone on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. The literary symbols of racial health in their eyes were watching god, a novel by zora neale hurston. One recurrent symbol throughout the first half of the novel is that of the mule. Zora neale hurston uses symbolism creatively throughout her novel, their eyes were watching god. The mule story serves to illustrate the strained relationship between janie and joe starks. What is the significance of the mule in their eyes were watching god.
Ordinary, everyday objects become the most powerful symbols in her writing. Their eyes were watching god in their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston, symbols are implemented to help the readers identify and understand the leitmotif of the novel. Free symbolism in their eyes were watching god essay. Zora neale hurstons writing is rich with symbols and metaphors. An essay or paper on symbols in their eyes were watching god. Start studying their eyes were watching god symbols. When jody brings lamps to eatonville, it shows that he believes he is as important as god, and wants the people to treat him in the same way. The people were not educated, but enjoyed their lives in ignorance. Turner s sense of racial hierarchy read full symbol analysis get the entire their eyes were watching god litchart as a printable pdf. The five main symbols are the pear tree, janies head rags, tea cake, the old mule.
In the novel there eyes were watching god, readers take a journey through the life of janie crawford. One commonly found symbol is janies hair, which represents her personality, individuality, and character. Symbolism of trees in their eyes were watching god essays. Because janies hair is so attractive to men, joe jealously makes his wife bind her hair, constraining janies femininity and stifling her identity. The long and narrow shape of a rope fits perfectly into the phallus symbols describing the male genitalia, despite the. They realize that in the midst of such a powerful and destructive hurricane, they have no power to stop the storm. She is an attractive, confident, middleaged black woman. Throughout janies life, she has been viewed as a domesticated animal and treated like one. This is their eyes were watching god chapter 18 by mr.
They symbolize masculinity and destruction go figure. She enjoys listening to the porch sitters and the mule talkers, a group of men who joke about a skinny yellow mule owned by matt bonner. The lights go out, the storm rages, and tea cake, janie, and their friends seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching god. He doesnt see women as animals that can be bought to do labor.
There is a funeral for the mule at the swamp outside of town. The eatonville community enjoys poking fun at matt bonner for his treatment of his yellow mule. This symbolism is implied through a blossoming pear tree, a sunrise, the protagonists hair, a mule, and a storm. In their eyes were watching god, how does the image of the black woman as the mule of the world become a symbol for the roles janie chooses or refuses to play during her quest. How symbolism is used in their eyes were watching god zora neale hurston uses symbolism to enhance characterization in her novel, their eyes were watching god, and symbolism is portrayed through the heroine of the novel, janie crawford. Mules are the symbol of janie throughout her marriages because like a mule, she is bought by different men. A humorous incident involving a mule serves to confirm what janies grandmother has said about the burdens. Powerful symbols in their eyes were watching god by zora. The men use language to both tear people down and build themselves up.
The motif of a mule in zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god, there is a continuous comparison between janie and mules. Each symbol is related to the condition of janies life at that time. Throughout the whole novel janie is seeking after it, trying to obtain it. The hurricane symbolizes the allpowerful force of nature, which trumps even the most intense exertions of power by humans, such as jody s abusive need for control, or mrs. Get an answer for in their eyes were watching god, what animals show up at the mule s funeral. Some of the men like to tease matt bonner about his skinny yellow mule. Mule talk close reading one situation in which a mule s presence indicates janies lack of ability to voice her opinion occurs when she is married to jody. Hurstons second and bestknown novel their eyes were watching god focuses on the black womans place in society. Hurston continues to use the motif of flowers when she says janie wasnt petalopen anymore. Janie protests and so her husband, joe, buys the mule from matt.
All their conversation centers around the rather frivolous subject of the yellow mule and they only talk about it to put down matt bonner and make themselves feel bigger. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Overall, hurston masterfully displays symbolism through her novel. Janies second husband, joe starks, forces janie to wear a headrag when in public. Within the novel, their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston, there are several inanimate objects which relate to the development of the main character but also the overall story. In zora neale hurstons novel their eyes were watching god, the author so skillfully weaves symbolism into her story that it demands an indepth examination.