their eyes were watching God review

""Ah don't mean to bother wid tellin' 'em nothin'" what does this show about janie

""Ah don't mean to bother wid tellin' 'em nothin'" what does this show about janie

she is very confident about herself and knows her worth

what does this mean "'Cause mah tongue is in mah friend's mouf."

Hurston is saying that maybe there's something about feminine voice that is collective through shared experiences.

what does the author mean by this Full of that oldest human longing-self revelation

This shows that Janie has revealed herself to herself-self-revelation/self-discovery.

why did 2nd wave feminists reject zora neale hurston's idea

Janie is finding her voice through men. The 2nd Wave Feminists rejected this because 2nd Wave Feminism specifically revolved around the idea of breaking away from the patriarchal society.

what did zora neale huston write about that caused her to be critiziced

she wrote about intra (within black community) problems and not inter (inter-racial)

the first paragraph is about mens dreams. the second is about women. what does this do

Marks distinction between women and men
Marks distinction between the dreams of women and men

what does the distinction between men and women symbolize

So fundamentally different between women and men as dreams represent who we are and what we value. different at the core

"The sun was gone, but he had left footprints in the sky." what does this mean

personification: element in folklore
Filling the novel with folkloric authenticity, gives DETERMINATION. This is showing that Hurston is saying that black folkloric novels are just as valid as Shakespeare, Mozart, and Aeneas.
It's literature, high art
This is authentic black voice

"Tongueless, earless, eyeless conveniences all day long. Mules and other brutes had occupied their skins" what is the significance and meaning

Communication makes us human. they are mules in the morning (working) but they are talking at night which is when they become human. author is saying this is where our power comes from

what symbol symbolizes who they are during daytime

mules

what does this quote mean
"Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone."

Is Janie or Pheoby the narrator? (<b>question to consider</b>)

"Night time put on flesh and blackness."

(folkloric) Personification
As Janie talks about this story, she becomes human.
Relates to the idea of "talking (communication) makes us human"

what doies the porch represent

the community

"It was a spring afternoon...remorseless sweet that left her limp and languid"

janie percieves love as natural so she connects it with nature

"Pear tree soaking in the alto chant of the visiting bees"
what does this mean

Love/Sex is natural for Janie
It should be beautiful...IN ORDER TO HAVE THIS, LOVE MUST BE MUTUAL

pear tree is a metaphor for?

This represents Janie's sexual awakening, but in a beautiful way.
Janie is saying that sex should be natural and mutual; Janie is saying that she is a being of natural and mutual love.

what does the gate symbolize

A gate is meant to keep things out and has boundaries
Janie only looks for Love inside the gates
Stops looking at the front gate

what does the author think jamie should do instead of looking for love inside of the gate

she should look outside of the gate

Janie is looking at the world through "pollen-colored glasses" (meaning sexual way) which isn't what Janie needs even though she thinks Johnny Taylor is what she needs. (pg.11) what does this mean?

Johnny Taylor kissed Janie OVER THE GATE, thus showing that Johnny Taylor isn't what she needs.

"The vision of Logan Killicks was desecrating the pear tree" what does this mean?

Taking away the sacredness of the pear tree/love

why does nanny make janie marry logan killicks

Janie's grandmother sees sexuality is violent and dangerous only because she and Janie's mother have been sexually assaulted. she doesnt want the same thing for Janie
This is the wrong move for janie, but it was done with good intentions

"The black woman is "de mule uh de world" what does the author mean?

Men put burden on women

"You can't beat nobody down so low till you can rob 'em of they will" what is the idea?

"will" = self-determination; meaning that you have a choice
Idea: Free WIll, you decide for yourself

Nanny is saying don't let anyone take your will away from you.

"Compel love like the sun the day" what is janie saying?

Janie thinks love will come naturally, but Janie is 3 months into marriage with Logan Killicks and Janie wants to love him but cannot connect
So What?: Relates to the idea that love has to be mutual/natural; the "love" between Janie and Logan Killicks is not mutual

"'Tain't in uh man tuh kiss foot long. Mouf kissin' is on uh equal and dat's natural" (pg.23) what is nanny saying?

Nanny recognizes that love should be mutual and natural

"Ah wants to want him sometimes. Ah don't want him to do all de wantin'" (pg.23) what does this say about janie?

Janie also wants this relationship to mutual and natural, but it isn't

"Nanny sent Janie along with a stern mien... she was dead" (24)
"There is a basin in the mind where words float around on thought and thought and sound and sight. Then there is a depth of thought untouched by words, and deeper still a gulf of formless feelings untouched by thought." what does this metaphor mean

METAPHOR ABOUT A CONTAINER W 3 LEVELS
1st Level: "words" floating on "thought"
We perceive our world, we get language from perception
2nd Level: "Thoughts" that we can't put words to
3rd Level: The "gulf" is of formless feelings untouched by "thoughts"
The "gulf" is larger than the "basin"
Meaning: The 3rd Level is more influential and resonates with us more, therefore it's more significant
Huge Part of us we are not even aware

"Hambo said, "Yo' wife is uh born orator, Starks. Us never knowed dat befo'. She put jus' de right words tuh our thoughts." what does this mean

There's a power to Janie's voice in a level of depth that not most of us have.
Maybe this is why Joe stiffles Janie's voice...because he realizes how much power her voice possesses.

"Janie waited a bloom time, and a green time and an orange time" what does this metaphor mean

1 yr has passed (seasons)
Janie did try; 1 year is a long time for a relationship where there is no love present

"But when the pollen again gilded the sun and sifted down on the world she began to stand around the gate and expect things." what does this mean

Janie was waiting for "another Johnny Taylor."

"She knew the world was a stallion rolling in the blue pasture of ether. She knew that God tore down the old world every evening and built a new one by sun-up." what does this mean

This shows that Janie believes that God is a destroyer and creator.
He creates something new everyday.

"He didn't look her way nor no other way except straight ahead, so Janie ran to the pump and jerked the handle hard while she pumped." what does this foreshadow?

the functionality of joes and janie's relationship
Joe was focused on his dreams/goals, he wasn't focused on Janie; he was paying attention to his pathway
He wasn't focused on her goals and dreams

"Her heavy hair fall down" what is the important of this?

hair- symbol of feminity and sexuality
With her sexuality ("hair"), she gets Jody to look at her.

why does joe make janie put her hair up

he sees her sexuality as a way to attract other men
he wants to disclose her power and strength

Logan's money is in land/property. this means there is security. however, joe's money is in his pocket. what does this mean and why is it important?

his money was not secure
But that was exciting to Janie because it meant that there could be mobility and that's what Janie needed

"Mah husband is gone tuh buy a mule fuh me tuh plow" (pg.29)
"You behind a plow! You ain't got no mo' business wid uh plow than uh hog is got wid uh holiday!"
what does this mean

Joe wants Janie to be trophy wife
Janie is meant to show off Joe's power of himself
This shows that Joe is treating Janie like an object

"Janie pulled back a long time because he did not represent sun-up and pollen and blooming trees, but he spoke for far horizon. He spoke for change and chance." what does this convey about janie's thoughts on joe?

From the beginning Janie is aware that Joe is not her person, he's not the person that she's seeking.

Janie: "But s'posin' -"
Jody: "leave de s'posin' and everything else to me"

Joe is stifling Janie's voice AND thoughts
Janie is still behind the gate, she starting to think for herself; however, Joe won't allow it and Janie knows that

"You don't need mah help out dere, Logan. Youse in yo' place and Ah'm in mine."

Janie believes that men and women have different labor roles
And Janie is okay with this

"Even if Joe was not there waiting for her, the change was bound to do her good."

This shows that Janie is leaving whether or not Joe is there
It shows her act of free will

"Thank yuh fuh yo' compliments, but mah wife don't know nothin' 'bout no speech-makin'. Ah never married her for nothin' lak dat. She's uh woman and her place is in de home."

Joe is suppressing Janie's voice and freedom by not allowing her to speak.
It's the fact that she never got the chance to even consider making a speech, is what bothered her. (no free will)

in what ways does joe limit janie and take her free will away

Joe doesn't allow Janie to go to the dragging out because he feels that that situation is beneath her.
<b>Joe doesn't allow Janie to sit on the porch and tell stories</b>
By preventing Janie from sitting on the porch, Joe dehumanizes Janie

why does joe stifle janie's voice

because he realizes how much power her voice possesses. (Janie never knew that she had this power within her)

Joe's Suppression is a symbol of?

All these ways Joe symbolically abuses Janie and the physical abuse is concrete*

"Dat's 'cause you need tellin'," he rejoined hotly. "It would be pitiful if Ah didn't. Somebody got to think for women and chillun and chickens and cows. I god, they sho don't think none theirselves." what is joe doing

Joe/Jody dehumanizes Janie by comparing her to chickens and cows.

"He wanted her submission and he'd keep on fighting until he felt he had it."

It is about control
Joe beats Janie because of his insecurity.

"Things packed up and put away in parts of her heart where he could never find them."

Janie "pack[ing] up and put[ting] away in parts of her heart where he could never find them" shows that Janie is preserving herself because Joe is suppressing her true nature; she realizes that Joe is not worthy of her.

"Ah could break her if she wuz mine. Ah'd break her or kill her. Makin' uh fool outa me in front of everybody."

The problem of violence against women is accepted and extremely pervasive.

what is janie saying in this
Sometimes God gits familiar wid us womenfolks too and talks His inside business. He told me how surprised He was 'bout y'all turning out so smart after Him makin' yuh different; and how surprised y'all is goin' tuh be if you ever find out you don't know half as much 'bout us as you think you do. It's so easy to make yo'self out God Almighty when you ain't got nothin' tuh strain against but women and chickens."

Janie is standing up for ALL WOMEN.
The truth about God is that he trusts Janie.
God is a friend.

"Then one day she sat and watched the shadow of herself going about tending store and prostrating itself before Jody, while all the time she herself sat under a shady tree with the wind blowing through her hair and her clothes. Somebody near about making summertime out of lonesomeness. This was the first time it happened, but after a while it got so common she ceased to be surprised. It was like a drug. In a way it was good because it reconciled her to things. She got so she received all things with the stolidness of the earth which soaks up urine and perfume with the same indifference."

psychological case of disassociation
This is a coping mechanism and a way for Janie to protect herself; to help keep her mind and heart safe. (Keep what is important to her, not her body but her mind)

what is virility and why is it important

Virility = male sexual power and potency
Joe's ENTIRE concept is based on the idea of virility. However, Janie has just ended this idea by humiliating Joe in front of everyone; she made him feel belittled (ruined ego).
Evidence: "Janie had robbed him of his illusion of irresistible maleness that all men cherish, which was terrible." (pg.79)

EFFECTIVLEY KILLS JOE

"She tore off the kerchief from her head and let down her plentiful hair." authors purpose?

After Joe had just died, Janie let her hair down while looking in the mirror.
self-reflection/self-revelation.

"She took careful stock of herself, then combed her hair and tied it back up again."

This shows that Janie still cared what others said about her.
This is different from the beginning where she doesn't care

"Before she slept that night she burnt up every one of her head rags and went about the house next morning with her hair in one thick braid swinging well below her waist."

Janie is getting rid of all the bad memories of Joe/Jody; she's getting rid of everything that Joe made her suppress her true nature with.
Janie finally has freedom; she's happy.

"She had been getting ready for her great journey to the horizons in search of people; it was important to all the world that she should find them and they find her."

<b>THE HORIZONS REPRESENTS DREAMS & GOALS</b>
Janie's dream is to be IN SEARCH OF PEOPLE.
Janie was frustrated at Nanny because Nanny restricted her.

"When God had made The Man...Janie had tried to show her shine."

- origin story
It gives us a sense of identity/purpose (why we're here)
This story tells us that we were one but then we were "chopped [into] millions of pieces," which produced many people with different backgrounds and we are changing over time. Then once the mud was put on us, it covered up our true beauties/who we truly are as a person; however, this led us to look for each other and become one again/regain our original perfection.

"Somebody thought it natural for her to play."

Tea Cake teaches Janie how to play checkers and doesn't allow her to win-no pity. checkers is a game where no one has an advantage so it shows how they are on the same level. shows the mutualistic nature
FORESHADOWS NATURAL AND MUTUALISTIC FRIENDHSIP

"But you got good meat on yo' head." what is tea cake saying

Tea Cake says Janie is smart

"Seemed as if she had known him all her life." what is janie saying about tea cake

Janie feels natural with Tea Cake

"They played away the evening again. Everybody was surprised at Janie playing checkers but they liked it. Three or four stood behind her and coached her moves and generally made merry with her in a restrained way. Finally everybody went home but Tea Cake."

<b>IMPORTANT</b>: Janie is finally able to be on the porch and communicate with everyone else; she's FINALLY ALLOWED TO BE HUMAN.

<b>Janie and Tea Cake went out to go fish, but they were sneaking around</b>

Tea Cake makes Janie feel like a young teen
Janie never got to do that; Tea Cake is healing her inner child
There's value behind sneaking out because there's a thrill in risks, and if you don't take risks you will never learn what you're capable of.

"Ah never have done it so fur, But as de old folks always say, Ah'm born but Ah ain't dead. Not tellin' whut Ah'm liable tuh do yet." what is janie saying?

Janie is admitting to being capable of doing things that she's never done before.

"Janie, Ah hope God may kill me, if Ah'm lyin'. Nobody else on earth kin hold candle tuh you, baby. You got de keys to de kingdom." - tea cake

Allusion (to Jesus giving Peter the keys to Heaven [the kingdom])
Janie is unlocking Tea Cake to Heaven; Janie is Tea Cake's salvation.
When you're in Heaven, you have eternal life.

Tea Cake thought that because of his and Janie's different class levels/distinctions, Janie wouldn't want to go to the big party he threw ("dem wuzn't no high muckty mucks.") (pg.121)
she responded with
"Looka heah, Tea Cake, if you ever go off from me and have a good time lak dat and then come back heah tellin' me how nice Ah is, Ah specks tuh kill yuh dead. You heah me?"

Janie was upset because she was tired of people assuming instead of asking her, she wanted to be included.
she always wanted to be with tea cake

Janie is self-actualized in the muck.

<b>BIG IMPORTANT EVIDENCE OF JANIE SELF-ACTUALIZED</b>: Janie was telling stories on the porch. (pg.134)

"Everytime Ah see uh patch uh roses uh somethin' over sportin' they selves makin' out they pretty."

She's found herself and Tea Cake is saying that she needs to share that/herself to the world.
What Janie has been looking for the entire time (herself) has been within her the entire time.
self relevation

"Tea Cake had two bad attacks that night. Janie saw a changing look come in his face. Tea Cake was gone. Something else was looking out of his face. She made up her mind to be off after the doctor with the first glow of day. So she was up and dressed when Tea Cake awoke from the fitful sleep that had come to him just before day. He almost snarled when he saw her dressed to go."

This means that Janie <b>didn't really kill</b> Tea Cake. This means that Janie shot the violence.
Janie destroyed the violence against women.

Tea Cake will not die because of Janie

Janie realized that Tea Cake can never die until she stops thinking about him.
Tea Cake will not die because of her love.

"Then you must tell 'em dat love ain't somethin' lak uh grindstone dat's de same thing everywhere and do de same thing tuh everything it touch. Love is lak de sea. It's uh movin' thing, but still and all, it takes its shape from de shore it meets, and it's different with every shore."

the sea refreshes it
Love changes people and shapes us into who we are as people

what does the narrator want for men and women

female identity to parallel a male one; in the natural world, male and female impulses complement each other, creating a perfect union in a mutual embrace. ideal of love and fulfillment are center to novel

what does jody offer to janie that logan doesnt

he "spoke for far horizon." Throughout the book, the horizon is an important symbol. It represents imagination and limitless possibility, the type of life that Janie wants as opposed to the one that she has.

when is the first time joe limits janie's power

when he wont let her make a speech after he was named mayor