Gaston Mclemore
AML 3041-02
Dr. Tatia Jacobson
10/12/08
Eyes on the Prize

Zora Neale Hurston was an African American folklorist and author during the Harlem Renaissance. She was born somewhere between February of 1891-1901 growing up in Eatonville, Florida, which came to be the first all-black town to be incorporated in the United States. Hurston traveled throughout the Caribbean, South, and Haiti studying black culture. The literature of the 1920’s was considered to be post-war prosperity, which elevated a sense of freedom and experimentation. Now considering her background and historical presence throughout the renaissance movement, enhances the relevance and realism to the text. Also, this enables Hurston to use the ability of telling the slave narrative through Colloquial language, creating a rich and diverse debate in literary context.

Janie is clearly set as the protagonist of this novel but can also seem antagonistic of her self, considering the significance of time, time change, and the relationships as well as her inner battle of discovering spiritual freedom and individuality. Hurston depiction of Janie deviates from the typical categorical placement of an African American woman, which I find primitive and originative. She’s strong and represents a mixed ancestry, considered black while sporting her “straight” hair. In addition Janie strays away from the stereotypical gender role by vocalizes her dreams and urge for independence, while humorously wearing overalls. This act of hers almost overshadows her inquisitive and ambitious drive that leads her to leave with Jody and see the world. It seems as though she becomes aware of her relation to nature and the world.

Hurston shows the hardships through the gender issues, but doesn’t paint a dark image of Janie throughout the novel. This contrasts with the typical depiction of an African American woman where there is not an emphasis on them, and if so, there portrayed in a dark place mentally, physically and probably nameless. On the contrary, Janie is put in a high place, in the spotlight and having an epiphany of sorts. For example , in chapter two it says quote “ She was stretched on her back beneath the pear tree soaking in the alto chant, the chanting, the gold of the sun and the painting breath of the breeze when the inaudible voice of it all came to her. She saw a dust-bearing bee sink into the sanctum of the bloom; the thousand sister calyxes arch to reach the love embrace and shiver of the tree to tiniest branch creaming with every blossom and frothing in delight. So this was a marriage! She had been summoned to hold a revelation (Hurston).” This gives a rise to Janie’s sexual awakening, yearning and emphasis on reciprocation, with the bees and flowers idealizing her vision of love mutually. Its those type of distinctions that set precedents for Hurston’s portrayal of Janie that differ much from the prior novels and writings of African American women.

In final thought, I think Zora Neale Hurston could be seen as a mysterious and provocative writer of the early twentieth century, which is debatable. Although, her remarkable technique of colloquial language, and silence throughout the text to evoke the cultural, societal, and political ways of the mid 1900’s. This is why I believe her relevance in the literary canon particularly the Afro-centric is not debatable.

Zora Neale Hurston “Their eyes were watching God”
Stephen Soitos “ American Writers: A collection of Literary Biographies” Ed. Jay Parini. New York

Gaston Mclemore
AML 3041-02
Dr. Tatia Jacobson

Edith’s Roman Fever
Edith Wharton’s short story Roman Fever portrays the early 1900s in Rome, depicting the ever-changing scenery, and society during the Victorian era, leading into the modernist era. The women and main characters Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade, are shown to be in conflict with the norms of the up-bringing and movement which they grew around and the new passions of the younger generations. In addition they compare their daughters and reflect on each other’s lives while noticing a distinction of their children’s actions, carelessness, and ways of thinking that differs from their cultured ways.
Wharton historically and metaphorically uses the text to analyze the monuments, and main characters to visually foreshadow or paint the picture of the “Old New York” or “Old Rome” battling with the “new” modern societal social standards or principles. Wharton descriptively shows the kind of life an independent woman of means could live in Rome at that time, matching that of the ancient monuments; beautiful but subtle, still, stuck in time. Predominately most of the story is set gazing over the forum and coliseum remembering the “good ole times” when they were young running about Rome. The area of issue comes as did in “The Age of Innocence” is the immobility and routine of women lives, while in conflict trying to adapt to change seemingly watch life go by.
There were a handful of Roman Monuments present in Roman Fever, all reflective of the setting and dynamics of the time.
Listed below;

The first significant is that of the Coliseum. “The coliseum is an ancient amphitheater where Romans went for entertainment. Their entertainment mostly consisted of battles; people killing animals or people killing each other (K Carr)” In Roman Fever Wharton described it as “The monument when afternoon and evening hang balanced in mid-heavan (837).”

The second is that of the Palatine; This hill is the hill of Romulus, and the supposed creator of Rome. This is where the most prominent figures lived. It’s said to be the birth place of Rome “Rene Seindel”).


The last is that of the Roman Forum (The ruins) - Stationed between Palatine Hill and Capitoline Hill of the city of Rome. The oldest and most important structures are found, including the Old Republic establishment of the senate and Republican government. Additionally it served as city hall or city square for people to enforce justice and faith. It became known to be the center of the republic and Empire.

These are a few of the seven hills that make up Rome, not including the Velian, the Caelian, or Quirinal which are significant as well, though being separated from one another was structured and functioned similar to the pentagon or white house of today. Policy, Commerce, and agriculture were amongst the day to day discussions and routine topics.
I think the significance lies not far from another modernist literature from Joseph Conrad’s, Heart of Darkness. Light and dark symbolizes the back and forth quarrel between Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade dealing with “light” which represent the beauty, and memory of the Old monumental Rome while through each night hatred and conflict cloud both women. Also, this plays a role in the gender and time issues for the women of being cemented in a younger, modernized world, irregular to their Victorian up-bringing. It’s seemingly like they both are falling into the “dark” because of the emergence of their ever growing daughters and new settings.
P.S. unfortunately my blog site won’t let me post the pictures, but the work cited cites has them.

Works Cited
“The Roman Forum.” Tripod. Web. 24 September 2009
Karen Carr, “Roman Coliseum” History for Kids. 10 Mar 2009. Kidipede, Web 24 Sept 2009
Rene Siendel, “Palatine Hill,” Sights. 06 Aug 2003. Web 24 Sept 2009
Photos bestofrome.eu/pho/pho.html