Their Eyes Were Watching Essay -- Literary Analysis, Zora Neale Hurst

Oftentimes, the quest for self discovery centers on the search for one’s voice. In Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching Gd the reader learns about Janie, the novel’s protagonist and hero, as she tells her friend Phoebe how she found her identity. Early on the reader learns that language is an important motif in the novel, yet, Zora Neale Hurston deliberately leaves out Janie’s voice in the scene where she uses it to save her life (acquit her of murder). In this scene, Janie does not speak through direct discourse or free mixed indirect discourse; her testimony is relayed to the reader through the narrator. Zora Neale Hurston did this to clarify the meaning of the novel: voice is best used for story telling (to people who will listen). It is used to tell stories that will be passed around and help others grow. It is a means of passing down history. It is a vehicle for story-telling (folklore). ***include a line or 2 that states and organizes my arguments***** At first the novel seems as if it is about Janie’s quest for love. But a deeper look reveals a more profound message. The real story is about Janie overcoming the struggles that keep her from finding her identity. Her identity is tied with her ability to become a storyteller, which she cannot become until she finds her voice. Janie’s evolution occurs as she â€Å"grows to understand the loneliness of silence [and] how morality is required for community† (Meese 47). Her voice is who she is, and just like folklore, it is shaped by beliefs, experiences, and dreams. (i.e. another hint that folklore is the identity of her culture). However, having a voice is only half of the battle, knowing when and how to use it is just as important. At the store opening in ... ...Hurston added this scene to show the importance of culture. By not accepting her heritage, Mrs. Turner leads a miserable life because she is rejecting her identity. Janie is not influenced by the white standard of judgment. Unlike Mrs. Turner’s marriage, Janie’s is real; she truly admires her husband and his ability to â€Å"take most any lil thing and make summertime out of it when times is dull.† (173). Hurston wants the people of her culture to be proud of who they are. By not doing so, they lead miserable lives like Mrs. Turner’s. Conclusion: present day folklore is story telling through music. Not all rap and hip hop songs are about sex and drugs. Many artists write songs with meaning. Like Jay Z’s â€Å"Can I live†. Include some lyrics and what they mean, telling the black folk of today some morals he learned along the way that helped me become and stay successful.