In Their Eyes Were Watching God, written by Zora Neale Hurston, marriage is a central topic. The main character of the book, Janie, is married three times. Her husbands are very different from one another which is also reflected in the relationship between her and her husbands in each marriage. Nevertheless, all three marriages show certain similarities which correspond to common gender roles of this time. The following essay thus will explore and analyze these marriages. Afterwards it will compare them with regard to three common gender roles of that time, and it will show that all three marriages are more or less built upon these common gender-specific ideas.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Three marriages: An Analysis
- The First Marriage: Janie and Logan
- The Second Marriage: Janie and Joe
- The Third Marriage: Janie and Tea Cake
- Comparison with Regard to Gender Roles in Marriage of that Time
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay explores the theme of marriage in Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, analyzing Janie's three marriages and their significance within the context of common gender roles of the time. It aims to demonstrate how these marriages reflect and contribute to the understanding of societal expectations and power dynamics within relationships.
- The impact of societal expectations on marriage and individual desires
- The complexities of gender roles in marriage and their implications for women's agency and autonomy
- The evolution of Janie's understanding of love, marriage, and self-identity
- The role of power and control in relationships
- The tension between individual fulfillment and societal expectations
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The essay begins by introducing Janie's first marriage to Logan Killicks, which is driven by Nanny's desire for her granddaughter's financial and personal security. Despite Janie's initial expectations of a romantic partnership, the marriage proves to be a mismatch, characterized by Logan's lack of affection, controlling nature, and disregard for her feelings. Janie experiences this marriage as a confinement, longing for a more fulfilling and equitable relationship.
The second chapter delves into Janie's marriage to Joe Starks, a man who initially presents himself as a charismatic and charming figure. Their relationship is marked by a shift from initial passion to a more perfunctory and power-driven dynamic. Joe's ambition and desire for social status lead him to control Janie's role and silence her voice, further highlighting the constraints imposed by societal expectations on women.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The essay focuses on key concepts such as marriage, gender roles, power dynamics, societal expectations, female agency, self-identity, and the complexities of love and relationships in the context of Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. It explores the ways in which these concepts intersect and inform the experiences of Janie Crawford, the protagonist, throughout her three marriages.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2006, Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God: Marriage in Zora Neale Hurston's 'Their Eyes Were Watching God', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/55575
