Their Eyes Were Watching God Comparison
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed both, The Grapes of Wrath, as well as, Their Eyes Were Watching God. While The Grapes of Wrath focuses more on the suffering of people in America during the Great Depression, Their Eyes Were Watching God fixates further upon the struggles of specific people. Even so, despite obvious differences in the plots and the writing, I was able to find several similarities amongst the two stories. Similarities such as, parallels between the main characters, the appearances of many different themes, and even corresponding problems characters were forced to face. While both books are, in ways, radically different in the way their stories are told, the books still manage to correlate to one another, and captivate readers for over the span of 60 years. Of the two books, my personal favorite was Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston. It was a story told from a third-person perspective, integrating the thoughts, feelings, as well as actions of all the characters in each of the book’s chapters. I greatly enjoyed this story, for it was quite a rollercoaster of sorts, as it took the reader deeper and deeper into the arduous life of Janie Crawford.
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There are a multitude of complex issues presented, from arranged marriages to murder. The common clichéd quote, “What does not destroy me, makes me stronger”, by Friedrich Nietzsche, is a direct application to the life lived by Janie. The many hurdles and obstacles she faced, despite all the set backs of racism, wealth, and gender, she still managed to come out on top, and even lead a life worth living- during her days with Tea Cake. While her struggle is a cause for sympathy, it is mostly admiration I feel, for this fictional character. Some of Janie’s difficulties, and even the way in which she handles them- are very relatable in comparison to my life, and even the lives of those around me. Janie underwent great deals of criticism from most of the people in her life, from her neighbors, to her grandmother. I am able to say that I too, faced difficult obstacles in the past, many of which were caused by judgmental- even ignorant people. I know, based off first hand experience, how challenging it can be to pave your own way- when your friends and family tell you what you’re doing is wrong. Luckily, Janie manages to escape her bad situation, and start a new life with a man named Joe Starks. What started out as love, quickly turned to misery, causing Janie to want to escape her current life as a mayor’s wife. Unfortunately for her, Janie’s situation seemed inescapable to the point where she waited for Joe to die, before she ran away with another man. It is at this point; Janie realizes that she does not need a man to take care of her. At her age- she is a mature woman, with knowledge of how to survive, and money, making it comfortable and almost easy. Her relationship with Tea Cake is purely for fun. She loves him, but she does not need him for survival, the way in which she needed her previous husbands. Reading this part of the story was my favorite. I felt that after so many years of being suppressed as a woman by the men in her life, Janie was finally able to live to her full potential. Tea Cake treats her as an equal, and truly loves her with all his being. This aspect was very important to display in the novel- for none of Janie’s husbands in the past responded to her like Tea Cake. They took care of each other, out of love. The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck was difficult to get through. Funnily enough, I was actually forced to read this book while I was in 6th grade, taking a supplementary English class for fun. This book was the only book I was unable to read that year. We read a myriad amount of books by various authors- from ‘Outliers’, to ‘1984’, yet this book was my downfall. I was completely unable to get passed the 60-page mark, every time I would sit down and try to read- a new distraction would arise. It was a tedious process. I remember coming into class one day, trying (and failing) to explain to my teacher why I had no report prepared for the book. Thankfully, I was not the only one who found it challenging, for most of the kids in my class came with hand-written notes from parents, exempting them from said report. Yet this year, I am proud to say that I have finally started, and finished this godforsaken book, and shockingly enough- I even liked it. I have to admit that before I even started, I was already dreading it, for I remembered that there were chapters 20 pages long, that spoke of nothing but dust settling- or struggling turtles. It is with embarrassment that I say, this is the reason I saved this book for last- my final cowardly attempt of putting off the inevitable. A few days before my inevitable demise (the day I would start this story), I had called my sister to complain to her about how difficult my life was. She, in all her infinite wisdom told me to be quiet (although not in those exact words) and said she had a wedding to plan- so naturally; my complaints fell on deaf ears. However, once I mentioned the book I was forced to read for a second time, her tone completely changed. My sister began gushing with a new vigor- almost spoiling a few main points. I quickly muted her, and told her that I hadn’t even started yet. She warned me that the first 100 pages or so- would bore me out of my mind. At this point, I was already sighing. Yet the next thing she said gave me a new hope- after those 100 pages of slow reading, the story would take a new twist and turn, and that I would love every second of it- being the kind of reader that I am. At this, I smiled and even considered starting the book a few days earlier than I had originally planned. Reading The Grapes of Wrath was a strenuous experience. On one hand, I had my preconceived notions, on the other hand- I had the desire to learn something new, and push old boundaries. There was one chapter in this book that really stayed with me- the chapter about the struggling turtle Joad was in the process of capturing. As I read the pages, I felt a deep sense of irrational sadness for the turtle and it’s struggles of trying to escape Joad’s coat. After over-analyzing the fourth chapter, I realized the reason for my sadness was due to that fact that the turtle reminded me of myself, and my past struggles. I understand the turtle was symbolic of the journey the Joads were to go through on their way to California, rather than my problems in middle school, but that still did not hinder the connections that ran through my mind. For me, Joad is symbolic of the bullies I had to face, and his coat was a parallel to the web of lies and rumors that surrounded me everywhere I went. “The turtle wetted on Joad's hand and struggled uselessly in the air. Joad turned it back upright and rolled it up in his coat with his shoes. He could feel it pressing and struggling and fussing under his arm” (Steinbeck 12). This quote depicts the obvious frustration of the turtle, and its pure unadulterated fear of the bigger creature- the fear of the bully. Joad tormented the turtle, stuffing it into his coat, nearly suffocating and crushing it for the days it lived snugly wrapped in the pocket. “Joad looked over toward his coat and saw the turtle, free of the cloth and hurrying away in the direction he had been following when Joad found him. Joad watched him for a moment and then got slowly to his feet and retrieved him and wrapped him in the coat again” (Steinbeck 17). The turtle tried to free itself, fought to get away. I empathize with the animal, for I too, tried to get away. Thankfully, I was able to finally stand up for myself- and get away for good. Joad did a more humane thing, in comparison to my bullies. Joad had the decency to let the turtle go, once he realized his prisoner was of no use neither to him- nor his kid siblings. Reading that, I felt much better, and even a sense of pride for the turtle. Despite the fact that it’s a fictitious situation that does not represent the struggle between people, I firmly believe that when put in the correct context, can be applied to multiple scenarios- besides the obvious ‘the turtle is symbolic of the Joads’ and their difficulties in travelling to California’ scenario. “An envious heart makes a treacherous ear” (Hurston 38). This was my favorite quote from, Their Eyes Were Watching God. I felt it was applicable to both books- in various ways. As an opener, we read about Janie being bad-mouthed by her neighbors. Similarly, we read about Tom Joad, and how after showing up in his town, people questioned whether he had escaped jail. In both cases, the protagonists had to clear their names of the gossip circling the air around them. In Janie’s case, the women of her town knew nothing of the difficulties her life had possessed. They knew nothing- from her oppressive husbands, to the euthanasia she had performed on the love of her life. Joad, on the other hand, was suspiciously looked on, by nearly everyone he came in contact with. Treacherous ears surrounded both characters, but they managed to ignore the rumors, settle down, and tell their life stories to the people that listened- the people that mattered. A common theme amongst both books was the theme of criminality, and how both protagonists struggled to rid themselves of it. Joad, in the beginning- as stated prior, being questioned and gawked at by the few remaining people in town, and Janie, in the end- during her trial for killing her husband. When put together, The Grapes of Wrath, as well as, Their Eyes Were Watching God, share multiple qualities- from similar themes to similar troubles…from comparable character problems, to other connections, connections to my own life. As the summer comes to an end, it is with incredible pride and happiness that I am able to declare that I have completed both stories, and as a side-note, enjoyed each book immensely.
Advice I have for future readers; I know we hear this saying a lot, and we do not heed by it ever, but its time we should- ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’. Really. Don’t. You’ll only end up tripping yourself up. For once I began to stop paying attention to the people around me, but rather focused my attention on my books, I began to realize that each one was special and relatable in its own way. Shockingly enough, I am glad I read these books. Not only am I able to say I have survived The Grapes of Wrath, but I would also recommend it to my fellow peers. Not that they would listen to me… but it’s worth a
try.
There are a multitude of complex issues presented, from arranged marriages to murder. The common clichéd quote, “What does not destroy me, makes me stronger”, by Friedrich Nietzsche, is a direct application to the life lived by Janie. The many hurdles and obstacles she faced, despite all the set backs of racism, wealth, and gender, she still managed to come out on top, and even lead a life worth living- during her days with Tea Cake. While her struggle is a cause for sympathy, it is mostly admiration I feel, for this fictional character. Some of Janie’s difficulties, and even the way in which she handles them- are very relatable in comparison to my life, and even the lives of those around me. Janie underwent great deals of criticism from most of the people in her life, from her neighbors, to her grandmother. I am able to say that I too, faced difficult obstacles in the past, many of which were caused by judgmental- even ignorant people. I know, based off first hand experience, how challenging it can be to pave your own way- when your friends and family tell you what you’re doing is wrong. Luckily, Janie manages to escape her bad situation, and start a new life with a man named Joe Starks. What started out as love, quickly turned to misery, causing Janie to want to escape her current life as a mayor’s wife. Unfortunately for her, Janie’s situation seemed inescapable to the point where she waited for Joe to die, before she ran away with another man. It is at this point; Janie realizes that she does not need a man to take care of her. At her age- she is a mature woman, with knowledge of how to survive, and money, making it comfortable and almost easy. Her relationship with Tea Cake is purely for fun. She loves him, but she does not need him for survival, the way in which she needed her previous husbands. Reading this part of the story was my favorite. I felt that after so many years of being suppressed as a woman by the men in her life, Janie was finally able to live to her full potential. Tea Cake treats her as an equal, and truly loves her with all his being. This aspect was very important to display in the novel- for none of Janie’s husbands in the past responded to her like Tea Cake. They took care of each other, out of love. The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck was difficult to get through. Funnily enough, I was actually forced to read this book while I was in 6th grade, taking a supplementary English class for fun. This book was the only book I was unable to read that year. We read a myriad amount of books by various authors- from ‘Outliers’, to ‘1984’, yet this book was my downfall. I was completely unable to get passed the 60-page mark, every time I would sit down and try to read- a new distraction would arise. It was a tedious process. I remember coming into class one day, trying (and failing) to explain to my teacher why I had no report prepared for the book. Thankfully, I was not the only one who found it challenging, for most of the kids in my class came with hand-written notes from parents, exempting them from said report. Yet this year, I am proud to say that I have finally started, and finished this godforsaken book, and shockingly enough- I even liked it. I have to admit that before I even started, I was already dreading it, for I remembered that there were chapters 20 pages long, that spoke of nothing but dust settling- or struggling turtles. It is with embarrassment that I say, this is the reason I saved this book for last- my final cowardly attempt of putting off the inevitable. A few days before my inevitable demise (the day I would start this story), I had called my sister to complain to her about how difficult my life was. She, in all her infinite wisdom told me to be quiet (although not in those exact words) and said she had a wedding to plan- so naturally; my complaints fell on deaf ears. However, once I mentioned the book I was forced to read for a second time, her tone completely changed. My sister began gushing with a new vigor- almost spoiling a few main points. I quickly muted her, and told her that I hadn’t even started yet. She warned me that the first 100 pages or so- would bore me out of my mind. At this point, I was already sighing. Yet the next thing she said gave me a new hope- after those 100 pages of slow reading, the story would take a new twist and turn, and that I would love every second of it- being the kind of reader that I am. At this, I smiled and even considered starting the book a few days earlier than I had originally planned. Reading The Grapes of Wrath was a strenuous experience. On one hand, I had my preconceived notions, on the other hand- I had the desire to learn something new, and push old boundaries. There was one chapter in this book that really stayed with me- the chapter about the struggling turtle Joad was in the process of capturing. As I read the pages, I felt a deep sense of irrational sadness for the turtle and it’s struggles of trying to escape Joad’s coat. After over-analyzing the fourth chapter, I realized the reason for my sadness was due to that fact that the turtle reminded me of myself, and my past struggles. I understand the turtle was symbolic of the journey the Joads were to go through on their way to California, rather than my problems in middle school, but that still did not hinder the connections that ran through my mind. For me, Joad is symbolic of the bullies I had to face, and his coat was a parallel to the web of lies and rumors that surrounded me everywhere I went. “The turtle wetted on Joad's hand and struggled uselessly in the air. Joad turned it back upright and rolled it up in his coat with his shoes. He could feel it pressing and struggling and fussing under his arm” (Steinbeck 12). This quote depicts the obvious frustration of the turtle, and its pure unadulterated fear of the bigger creature- the fear of the bully. Joad tormented the turtle, stuffing it into his coat, nearly suffocating and crushing it for the days it lived snugly wrapped in the pocket. “Joad looked over toward his coat and saw the turtle, free of the cloth and hurrying away in the direction he had been following when Joad found him. Joad watched him for a moment and then got slowly to his feet and retrieved him and wrapped him in the coat again” (Steinbeck 17). The turtle tried to free itself, fought to get away. I empathize with the animal, for I too, tried to get away. Thankfully, I was able to finally stand up for myself- and get away for good. Joad did a more humane thing, in comparison to my bullies. Joad had the decency to let the turtle go, once he realized his prisoner was of no use neither to him- nor his kid siblings. Reading that, I felt much better, and even a sense of pride for the turtle. Despite the fact that it’s a fictitious situation that does not represent the struggle between people, I firmly believe that when put in the correct context, can be applied to multiple scenarios- besides the obvious ‘the turtle is symbolic of the Joads’ and their difficulties in travelling to California’ scenario. “An envious heart makes a treacherous ear” (Hurston 38). This was my favorite quote from, Their Eyes Were Watching God. I felt it was applicable to both books- in various ways. As an opener, we read about Janie being bad-mouthed by her neighbors. Similarly, we read about Tom Joad, and how after showing up in his town, people questioned whether he had escaped jail. In both cases, the protagonists had to clear their names of the gossip circling the air around them. In Janie’s case, the women of her town knew nothing of the difficulties her life had possessed. They knew nothing- from her oppressive husbands, to the euthanasia she had performed on the love of her life. Joad, on the other hand, was suspiciously looked on, by nearly everyone he came in contact with. Treacherous ears surrounded both characters, but they managed to ignore the rumors, settle down, and tell their life stories to the people that listened- the people that mattered. A common theme amongst both books was the theme of criminality, and how both protagonists struggled to rid themselves of it. Joad, in the beginning- as stated prior, being questioned and gawked at by the few remaining people in town, and Janie, in the end- during her trial for killing her husband. When put together, The Grapes of Wrath, as well as, Their Eyes Were Watching God, share multiple qualities- from similar themes to similar troubles…from comparable character problems, to other connections, connections to my own life. As the summer comes to an end, it is with incredible pride and happiness that I am able to declare that I have completed both stories, and as a side-note, enjoyed each book immensely.
Advice I have for future readers; I know we hear this saying a lot, and we do not heed by it ever, but its time we should- ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’. Really. Don’t. You’ll only end up tripping yourself up. For once I began to stop paying attention to the people around me, but rather focused my attention on my books, I began to realize that each one was special and relatable in its own way. Shockingly enough, I am glad I read these books. Not only am I able to say I have survived The Grapes of Wrath, but I would also recommend it to my fellow peers. Not that they would listen to me… but it’s worth a
try.