Their Eyes Were Watching God Tree Analysis
In Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, the tree symbolises Janie’s ideal future and how she pictures her future relationships with Logan Killlicks, Jody Starks, and Tea Cake. First, Janie realizes Logan Killicks is not her ideal pear tree. In addition, Janie also realizes the same about Jody starks. Lastly, Janie finally found her pear tree but is it too late. Opponents would argue the symbolism would be Janie’s hair because her hair represents independence, but once she got to the town Jody always demanded her to put her hair up. That takes away her independence and therefore shows which relationship is the healthiest. However, they are wrong because the hair is supposed affect each relationship and show which relationship is healthiest;
…show more content…
Logan never mentioned her hair, thus they can not use the hair as a symbolism.
Janie realizes Logan Killicks is not her ideal pear tree. When Janie first arrived at Logan’s house she realized “It was a lonesome place like a stump in the middle of the woods where nobody had ever been.” (pg. 11) Hurston uses the word “stump” to symbolize her feelings towards the marriage. Janie's marriage with logan was lonely like the stump. She was not loved in comparison to her experiences under the tree. Janie soon realized her marriage with logan was terrible. “The vision of Logan Killicks was desecrating the pear tree, but Janie didn’t know how to tell Nanny that.” (pg. 14) Hurston includes the word “nanny” to show how nanny is forcing the marriage between them. Hurston also use the word “desecrating” to show how the marriage is crushing her dreams of loving someone. To wrap it up Janie’s dreams are being destroyed because nanny forced her to love and marry someone. Janie's relationship to Logan was poor because of their different decisions on who should work where. They did not agree to certain things together.
In addition, Janie also realizes the same about Jody starks.
Janie’s concept of marriage is unique in her own, sixteen year old, eyes. “Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone. Dawn and doom was in the branches.” (pg. 8) Janie saw her marriages like bees who visit the beautiful blossoms of the pear tree, her life was formed around this tree because of the experiences she had underneath it. She experienced love and life that she wants to replicate. Janie also knows that her life and loved ones would bring her joy and suffering and not everything would be what she hoped for. Joe Starks to Janie was the opposite of her pear tree---he was the suffering. Just like Logan, Jody did not give Janie her ideal pear tree image. “Janie pulled back a long time because he did not represent sun-up and pollen and blooming trees, but he spoke for far horizon.” (pg. 29) Hurston uses the word “sun-up” to symbolize hope and “pollen and blooming trees” to symbolize sex and new life, but Jody did not give her these things he only gave her fortune. Janie's relationship to Jody was also very poor because there was a lack of communication between the two and too much
control.
Lastly, Janie finally found her love that resembles the pear tree. Tea cake is finally the one that brings her happiness. “He could be a bee to a blossom----a pear tree blossom in the spring.” (pg. 106) Janie uses imagery to express the joy that Tea Cake, made the experience under the tree reality. Since Janie was a teenager she has been searching for that kind of love and she finally found it. Tea cake made her feel like a women again. Janie has her own mindset of love and who to trust. “But it was always going to be dark to Janie if Tea Cake didn’t soon come back.”(13.16) Hurston uses foreshadowing to show that Tea Cake is Janie's Sun and light which is the same time where you can see a trees full beauty. Thus, shows how much she loves him. Janie's relationship to Tea Cake from all three was the healthiest because he will treat her with respect and actually take good care of his wife.
Opponents would argue the symbolism would be Janie’s hair because her hair represents independence. Once she got to the town Jody always demanded her to put her hair up. That takes away her independence and therefore opponents can argue which relationship is the healthiest. However, they are wrong because the hair is supposed to affect each relationship and show which relationship is healthiest; Logan never mentioned her hair, thus they can not use the hair as a symbolism. The reason for Janie leaving is not clear but you can infer that she left because of him wanting her to work indoors and outdoors and because he was too dirty; when he did not wash his feet. So it was not because of the symbolism with the hair.
In conclusion, Hurston used trees as a symbol for Janie to describe her life and love. Janie realizes Logan Killicks is not her ideal pear tree. In addition, Janie also realizes the same about Jody starks. Lastly, Janie finally found her pear tree. Opponents would argue the symbolism would be Janie’s hair because her hair represents independence, but once she got to the town Jody always demanded her to put her hair up. That takes away her independence and therefore shows which relationship is the healthiest. However, they are wrong because the hair is supposed affect each relationship and show which relationship is healthiest; Logan never mentioned her hair, thus they can not use the hair as a symbolism. Always believe what is right for you do not let others lead you in the wrong path.
Logan never mentioned her hair, thus they can not use the hair as a symbolism.
Janie realizes Logan Killicks is not her ideal pear tree. When Janie first arrived at Logan’s house she realized “It was a lonesome place like a stump in the middle of the woods where nobody had ever been.” (pg. 11) Hurston uses the word “stump” to symbolize her feelings towards the marriage. Janie's marriage with logan was lonely like the stump. She was not loved in comparison to her experiences under the tree. Janie soon realized her marriage with logan was terrible. “The vision of Logan Killicks was desecrating the pear tree, but Janie didn’t know how to tell Nanny that.” (pg. 14) Hurston includes the word “nanny” to show how nanny is forcing the marriage between them. Hurston also use the word “desecrating” to show how the marriage is crushing her dreams of loving someone. To wrap it up Janie’s dreams are being destroyed because nanny forced her to love and marry someone. Janie's relationship to Logan was poor because of their different decisions on who should work where. They did not agree to certain things together.
In addition, Janie also realizes the same about Jody starks.
Janie’s concept of marriage is unique in her own, sixteen year old, eyes. “Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone. Dawn and doom was in the branches.” (pg. 8) Janie saw her marriages like bees who visit the beautiful blossoms of the pear tree, her life was formed around this tree because of the experiences she had underneath it. She experienced love and life that she wants to replicate. Janie also knows that her life and loved ones would bring her joy and suffering and not everything would be what she hoped for. Joe Starks to Janie was the opposite of her pear tree---he was the suffering. Just like Logan, Jody did not give Janie her ideal pear tree image. “Janie pulled back a long time because he did not represent sun-up and pollen and blooming trees, but he spoke for far horizon.” (pg. 29) Hurston uses the word “sun-up” to symbolize hope and “pollen and blooming trees” to symbolize sex and new life, but Jody did not give her these things he only gave her fortune. Janie's relationship to Jody was also very poor because there was a lack of communication between the two and too much
control.
Lastly, Janie finally found her love that resembles the pear tree. Tea cake is finally the one that brings her happiness. “He could be a bee to a blossom----a pear tree blossom in the spring.” (pg. 106) Janie uses imagery to express the joy that Tea Cake, made the experience under the tree reality. Since Janie was a teenager she has been searching for that kind of love and she finally found it. Tea cake made her feel like a women again. Janie has her own mindset of love and who to trust. “But it was always going to be dark to Janie if Tea Cake didn’t soon come back.”(13.16) Hurston uses foreshadowing to show that Tea Cake is Janie's Sun and light which is the same time where you can see a trees full beauty. Thus, shows how much she loves him. Janie's relationship to Tea Cake from all three was the healthiest because he will treat her with respect and actually take good care of his wife.
Opponents would argue the symbolism would be Janie’s hair because her hair represents independence. Once she got to the town Jody always demanded her to put her hair up. That takes away her independence and therefore opponents can argue which relationship is the healthiest. However, they are wrong because the hair is supposed to affect each relationship and show which relationship is healthiest; Logan never mentioned her hair, thus they can not use the hair as a symbolism. The reason for Janie leaving is not clear but you can infer that she left because of him wanting her to work indoors and outdoors and because he was too dirty; when he did not wash his feet. So it was not because of the symbolism with the hair.
In conclusion, Hurston used trees as a symbol for Janie to describe her life and love. Janie realizes Logan Killicks is not her ideal pear tree. In addition, Janie also realizes the same about Jody starks. Lastly, Janie finally found her pear tree. Opponents would argue the symbolism would be Janie’s hair because her hair represents independence, but once she got to the town Jody always demanded her to put her hair up. That takes away her independence and therefore shows which relationship is the healthiest. However, they are wrong because the hair is supposed affect each relationship and show which relationship is healthiest; Logan never mentioned her hair, thus they can not use the hair as a symbolism. Always believe what is right for you do not let others lead you in the wrong path.