Their Eyes Were Watching God
Women and Power
"De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah can see."
--Nanny, Their Eyes Were Watching God 14
This quote establishes the novel's unusual perspective on gender difference. It's the story of a woman's struggle with power. During this time, African American women were looked upon as the mules of the world, because the men were considered the "Gods." Society believed that since they were the men of their households, whatever they said was the way it went. The novel set the tone for different novels during the Harlem Renaissance. It was the first major novel published by an African American woman, so it was often classified as a feminist novel. Feminism is often associated with the idea that men and women are equal. The narrator immediately establishes an important difference between men and women, but allows the reader to recognize that men and women need certain things from each other. (Curran 21)
The novel is about an African American woman named Janie Crawford. Janie deals with power at a young age. At a young age, she never obtained the opportunity to think for herself. For example Nanny says, "Ah wants to see you married right away." (Hurston 13) This quote allows the reader to see that Janie never had the opportunity to
Fountain 2
think for herself. Her grandmother and future husbands made the decisions in her life. Janie tells her life story and experiences through a flashback to her friend, Phoeby. Janie's life story is told in the context of four frames. The four frames consist of: Janie's early life with Nanny, Janie's marriage to Joe Starks, and her marriage to Tea Cake. Janie's grandmother, Nanny, was a slave who was impregnated by a white man. Eventually, Nanny gives birth to a daughter. Her daughter becomes pregnant and gives birth to Janie. She left Janie with Nanny and isn't present throughout the novel. Janie's father is also absent throughout the novel. As Janie matures, she becomes interested in the
"De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah can see."
--Nanny, Their Eyes Were Watching God 14
This quote establishes the novel's unusual perspective on gender difference. It's the story of a woman's struggle with power. During this time, African American women were looked upon as the mules of the world, because the men were considered the "Gods." Society believed that since they were the men of their households, whatever they said was the way it went. The novel set the tone for different novels during the Harlem Renaissance. It was the first major novel published by an African American woman, so it was often classified as a feminist novel. Feminism is often associated with the idea that men and women are equal. The narrator immediately establishes an important difference between men and women, but allows the reader to recognize that men and women need certain things from each other. (Curran 21)
The novel is about an African American woman named Janie Crawford. Janie deals with power at a young age. At a young age, she never obtained the opportunity to think for herself. For example Nanny says, "Ah wants to see you married right away." (Hurston 13) This quote allows the reader to see that Janie never had the opportunity to
Fountain 2
think for herself. Her grandmother and future husbands made the decisions in her life. Janie tells her life story and experiences through a flashback to her friend, Phoeby. Janie's life story is told in the context of four frames. The four frames consist of: Janie's early life with Nanny, Janie's marriage to Joe Starks, and her marriage to Tea Cake. Janie's grandmother, Nanny, was a slave who was impregnated by a white man. Eventually, Nanny gives birth to a daughter. Her daughter becomes pregnant and gives birth to Janie. She left Janie with Nanny and isn't present throughout the novel. Janie's father is also absent throughout the novel. As Janie matures, she becomes interested in the