Janie's Identity In Their Eyes Were Watching God

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Janie: Their Eyes Were Watching God In Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), Janie Starks develops her character as she goes from discovering that she is African American to discovering the meaning of being a woman. Janie narrates her story full of hardships to her friend Pheoby Watson. She includes her failed marriages and quests for true love as they help her to find her independence. Throughout the novel, Janie goes on a journey in order to discover her true identity. Janie discovers that she is African American when she sees a picture of herself and asks who that person is. When she was told it was her who had very dark skin, she responded with “Aw, aw! Ah’m colored!” (Hurston Par. 9). For the first time, Janie discovers …show more content…

Janie has an eye-opening experience when “She saw a dust-bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom; the thousand sister-calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree from root to tiniest branch creaming in every blossom and frothing with delight. So this was a marriage!” (Hurston 11). Janie’s encounter with the flower and the bee changes her as a sixteen year old as it introduces her to womanhood. After this experience, Janie grows as a female character and role model as Hurston “created a character to whom women can look for many of the traits they are traditionally accused of lacking, such as strength, courage, enduring love, and wisdom” (Bailey Par. 5). Janie begins her journey as an innocent little girl; however, she develops into a relatable woman who influences other women throughout time. As Janie learns what it means to be a woman and how to overcome the female stereotype of sitting still while looking pretty, she discovers her true identity and purpose. With this being said, the character of Janie serves as a courageous women who empowers others to realize that opportunities exist in exchange for hard work and …show more content…

She goes on a journey that involves discovering her race, gender, and true love in order to discover her identity. Hurston writes this book to teach other women to embrace being strong, courageous, and independent despite the common stereotype that exists in the

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