Black Woman In A Time example essay topic

Book Review Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston was set in Florida in the late 1930's. The main character, Janie, is a black woman in a time when racism was prominent, though this i snot the focus of the story. It was more about her personal triumphs as a woman who was born ofa white father and a black mother. Her mother was raped and left soon after she was born, putting her in the care of her grandmother. Her first husband, Logan Killick's shows her no attention or love from the beginning of their marriage. Janie is married to him at a very you ngage, and does it because it is what her grandmother has told her to do, and not because it is whats he wants to do.

She soon leaves Logan for Joe Starks. The two move to a small town where Joe, whom she calls Jody, is the mayor. They open up a small general store and are able to enjoy the finer things, such as fancy spitting pots, because they are so prominent in their town. After awhile though, things change between the two. Joe becomes possessive, forcing Janie to where her hair up, and eventually he tells her she is old and no one will want her due to his insecurities with growing older.

Even when Joe is on his death bed the two are unable to reconcile their differences, so when Joe dies, Janie's grieving period is not long, though she pretends it is to keep the people of the town happy. Her next and final husband, Vergible Woods, whom she lovingly refers to as Tea Cake is the husband she ultimately finds love with. Through their struggles, TeaCake loves Janie, as she does him, and he is the only of the three husbands that she uses the term love in reference to. One of the themes of this story is love. Janie goes through three different relationships and is finally able to find happiness with the last one. Also, strength is another theme of this book.

She has the strength to walk away from one marriage and take part in another even though the people her town have a watchful eye on her because they do not believe she has mourned long enough. Several times in the story she stands up to her husbands. For example, after enduring endless ridicule from Joe, she finally has the encourage to tell him that he needs to look at himself because he is far from perfect. This is a sign if strength for a woman of this time period. Another theme, although not a main one, was the issue of racism. Several times the word nigger is used, and one woman particularly, Mrs. Turner, thinks that she is better than everyone because although she is black, she has white features.

The characters in this book are what made it so great. They spoke in a certain dialect which made the book more believable. Also, the author used a lot of symbols. In the beginning, she compares Janie with a blossom because she is becoming a woman just as the blossom is becoming a flower. Also, she compares a rabid dog with death because, although it did not kill her, it was what ultimately killed Tea Cake. The plot of the story was also wonderful because instead of janie being a character who the reader pities because she is a black oppressed woman, she is one the reader can look up to and respect for her strengths and triumphs.

There was not anything about this book I would change. The ending was sad, but that made the story seem more believable. The reader was able to accompany Janie through the hardships other life, but also enjoy the good times with her. This is why anyone who enjoys learning a little history while at the same time sharing in the heartbreak and happiness of an interesting character should read this book. Historically, it painted a vivid, accurate picture of what life was like during this time. It also provided an outlook into the social aspects of this time by explaining how women and blacks were treated.

This is defiantly a four star book. It was historically accurate, interesting and it had many great quotes and phrases that added to the depth of the book. It gives the reader a different perspective on many things because I will never know what it is like to live as a black woman. This book allowed me to see how it could have been, had I lived back then, and been in Janie's situation. This book should be read and enjoyed by all.