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