Topics

Poem #1

“The Chimney Sweeper”

Poem #2

“Siren Song”

Poem #3

“Will”

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Literary Criticism: Symbolic Rep. of Identity

Repressing true feelings to gain acceptance

“And because I am happy and dance and sing, they think they have done me no injury,” (9-10). In The Chimney Sweeper, the young sweep represses his true feelings towards sweeping in order to gain acceptance from his parents. He acts happy around his parents so they will be proud, however, he’s actually in misery. This is similar to Janie in Their Eyes Were Watching God because Janie represses her true self to gain acceptance from Jody and keep him happy.

In “Siren Song” the siren represses her true identity to gain “acceptance” as she makes herself seem like the damsel in distress to trick the sailors. As a result, she gains acceptance from the sailors, as they, “leap overboard in squadrons,” because they are answering her call to help.

In “Will” by Jane Yolen, her father, after years of secrecy, reveals his past. Her father had repressed his true identity as it caused him pain in the past. He tried to create a new identity for himself to seem strong for his daughter. By doing this, he never intentionally wanted to hurt their relationship, but rather remaining strong to gain acceptance from his daughter.

“That night he ordered Janie to tie her hair up around the store. That was all. She was there for him to look at. Not those others,” (Hurston 55). Janie took pride in her appearance and her hair, as she was always seen with her long black hair down. That is, until Jody became jealous of other men gazing upon her beauty, and made her tie her hair up like an old woman. He also didn’t allow her to speak with people outside the store or give speeches as the mayor’s wife.

Talking about Tea Cake, this literary criticism says, “Not only does he appreciate Janie’s beauty, intelligence, and independence, but he also shows her tenderness, trust, and respect.” This was the first marriage in which Janie could portray her true self, as she had previously repressed her true self to please Logan and Jody.

Narrator makes themselves the victim

“Because I was happy upon the heath… clothed me in clothes of death,” (5-7). The Chimney sweep makes himself the victim to emphasize the misery he faces despite the fact his parents believe he’s happy.

“I don’t enjoy it here, squatting on this island,” (13-14). The siren makes herself the victim to lure the sailors with her song.

“He devoured me. All of me. Bones and blood. My whole,life,” (29-32). Jane Yolen makes herself seem like the victim in “Will”. Despite the fact that her father had suffered in his past, and resurfacing it ruined their relationship, she makes herself the victim, with the reasoning that he kept his true self from her.

Janie makes herself the victim by suffering through a deteriorating marriage with Jody. Their marriage began to fall apart, and Janie makes herself the victim because she had been miserable since her identity had been repressed.

“Attuned to the connection between man and woman, Janie desperately wants the love and affection from a man that the tree receives from a pollen bearing bee.” According to this literary criticism, Janie kind of makes herself seem like the victim because she makes herself sound desperate and lonely, that all she wants is love.  

Misery/defeat due to lack of understanding

The chimney sweep faces misery due to the lack of understanding from his parents. “They think they have done me no injury. And are gone to praise God and his Priest and King,” (10-11). The sweeper’s parents are unaware of his misery because they don’t realize he’s not happy, due to the fact he pretends to be happy for them.

The sailors face defeat due to lack of understanding as they fall prey to the sirens. I cry for help: Help me! Only you, only you can.” Despite the fact that they see the skulls of dead men on the island, they still fall prey to the sirens due to the lack of understanding that they’re tricking them.

Jane Yolen’s father didn’t understand that keeping his true past a secret would hurt his daughter so much, since he was trying to remain strong for her. However, this did lead to misery/disappointment in their relationship.

In Their Eyes Were Watching God the people of Eatonville don’t understand Janie’s desires to run off with Tea Cake and they are all judgemental and hostile toward her return home. They all gossip about her and ridicule her overalls and long hair at her age, as well as how Jody didn’t understand her wants. This doesn’t necessarily lead to defeat, as she doesn’t care what the townspeople think, but her marriage with Jody did suffer.  

“Janie expresses empathy for the animal and this is often seen as Janie’s “own sense of gender entrapment.””  Looking again at Jody’s mistreatment of Janie, she feels as though she is sometimes treated similarly to the mule, in misery not being treated with respect.

Essay Title: Symbolic Representation of Identity in Hurston’s THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD

The author seeks to convey how Hurston portrays the development of Janie’s identity throughout the novel. as stated in the first line of the essay, “The audience is provided a window into the development of the black female psyche through specific symbols.” This is portrayed through the author’s use of various symbols including, the pear tree, the mule, and hair. The pear tree is a symbol for Janie’s budding sexuality, as she comes to realize that, “along with being sexually desired, a woman should be treated with respect and dignity.” This essay recognized that the mule represented the female identity, but also that once Janie was free from Jody, there were no more references to mules, signifying that Janie has now reached self actualization and belongs to no one but herself.”

The essay does offer clues to author’s position with regard to gender and race. The main focus of the entire essay itself was on the symbols that represented the black women’s identity and psyche, which definitely addresses gender and race. The author explored the pear tree, the mule, and hair as symbols addressing the topic. For example, looking at the mule, one of the town members is ridiculed because of his inability to control his mule, and the essay relates this back to how the same comparison is used when addressing Janie’s marriage, as she feels inability to have control over herself.

Ethos: In regards to the symbolism with the mule, “Somebody got to think for women and chillun and chickens and cows. I god, they sho don’t think none themselves,” (Hurston 67).

“That night he ordered Janie to tie up her hair around the store. That was all. She was there in the store for him to look at, not those others,” (Hurston 55).

“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,” (Hurston 26).

“Janie expresses empathy for the animal and this is often seen as Janie’s “own sense of gender entrapment.””

Pathos: “She tore off the kerchief from her head and let down her plentiful hair,” (Hurston 83)

“Attuned to the connection between man and woman, Janie desperately wants the love and affection from a man that the tree receives from a pollen bearing bee.”

 “Not only does he appreciate Janie’s beauty, intelligence, and independence, but he also shows her tenderness, trust, and respect.”

Logos: “What dat ole forty year ol “oman doin’ wid her hair swingin’ down her back like some young gal?” (Hurston 2).

A pretty doll baby lak you is made to sit on de front porch an rock an fan yo’self,” (Hurston 29).

“You know honey, us colored folks is branches without roots and that makes things come around in queer ways. You in particular. Ah was born back due in slavery so it wasn’t for me to fulfill my dreams of whut a woman oughta be and to do. Dat’s one of the hold backs of slavery,” (Hurston 16).

This essay is very persuasive in the aspect that it definitely raises attention to an important thematic element of the book as Janie tries to reach self actualization. The argument the author makes is valid that “The audience is provided a window into the development of the black female psyche through specific symbols. The author then uses various outside sources as well as quotations from the book to help support the claim. All of the symbols addressed are evident and important symbolizations throughout the book, and I completely agree with everything brought to attention in the essay.