Their Eyes Were Watching God
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One of the themes that Their Eyes were watching God by Zora Hurston focused on was racial uplift. At the time, blacks were trying to end the stereotype that they were inferior people by venturing into prominent professions such as politics and entrepreneurship. It helped them prove to society that they also were able to attain significant milestones in their lives. Hurston has created characters who are from Eatonville that help in establishing this thought. For instance, Jane Crawford is the novel’s protagonist and shows that black women can be strong-willed and opinionated. When Jane is married off to her first husband, Logan, she does not feel loved because her first husband treats her as a child who should obey him. Her second husband, too, does not give her the chance to explore her identity and socialize freely with people. It is what leads to the end of their marriage. Jane wants her freedom and independence and is not afraid to go for what she feels is suitable for her no matter what people say about her.
Jody starks is the other character who is ambitious and looks to build himself, leading to his relocation to Eatonville from Georgia. In Eatonville, he succeeds in various areas as he becomes the mayor, the postmaster, storekeeper, and the biggest landlord. Though he is successful in business and politics, he fails miserably in his marriage as he sees Janie, his wife, as an object to be owned and not a person with their opinion. Finally, there is Nanny Crawford, who took care of Janie. She has had experience as a slave and does not want the same for her granddaughter; that is why she values respectability, upward mobility, and financial security. To secure all these for her granddaughter, she finds Janie many much older than her to marry. Though she had Janie’s best intentions, her thoughts don’t correspond to Janie’s who wants independence.