Jude Hill 5th Period

Their Eyes Were Watching God Essay

With the creation of government inevitably comes the creation of rules and laws. These laws are
usually set up to protect the lives and wills of its citizens Usually. However, sometimes a government
can inadvertently, or advertently, create systems which oppress others. In the contemplative novel Their
Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, societal pressure leads to frustration many times with
the main character, Janie. It stifles her strength, proving that societal structures can do more harm than
good.

Because of her gender, Janie has fluctuations in her power, which can either increase or
decrease it depending on the situation. Janie chats with Phoebe, her friend, when Phoebe
states that Even wid dem overhalls on, you shows yo womanhood, demonstrating that even
while dressing in a clothing item intended for working males, Janie still manages to display her
womanhood (Hurston 5). This elevates her influence, as her beauty gives her power above men.
However, her womanhood means that in society, she is less valued and seen primarily as
someone to be married off. Nanny tells Janie Ah wants to see you married right away,
implying that she is more of an item to be awarded to someone, as it is her duty to marry
(Hurston 15). Nanny even realizes that society treats women worse, explaining to Janie that De
n***** woman is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah can see. (Hurston 17). Despite being aware of the
discrimination women face, Nanny still conforms to societys expectations for her, either because she
believes in them, or because she feels that she has no other choice.

Due to her race, Janie, as well as the people around her and her family members, is put
at a disadvantage from birth. In fact, because of her combined race and gender discrimination,
she is automatically set on one of the lowest rungs of society, without being able to make one
choice about it. Nanny sadly explains to Janie that It wasnt for me (her) to fulfill my dreams of
whut a woman oughta be and to do. (Hurston19). Simply because of her race and gender, she was
unable to have the freedom to determine her path in life. Because Nanny was oppressed as a child, she
holds a high respect for actions we all take for granted, such as sitting on a porch. When Nanny was
growing up, Black folks didnt sit down anytime dey felt lak it. (Hurston154). So, being able to sit down
whenever she wanted like only a privileged white woman from her time would be able to.

Due to growing up around a white family, and later due to her wealth, Janie is seen as higher in
status compared to the other black members in her community. In fact, as a child Janie states that Ah
didnt know Ah wuznt white (Hurston 11). It is interesting that as an innocent child, she didnt really
see race, and the differences perceived through it. However, while white people treated her with higher
status, the black members of her community viewed her as a sort of betrayer, as they struggled for
higher social status, Janie gained it from birth, though obviously not as much as a white person. She was
a pariah at her school, saying teasin me bout livin in de white folks back-yard. (Hurston 11). And,
when she grew up, she still had high status due to her money from the store. So, when she eventually
returned to her hometown without a husband and with less money, she was met with mass cruelty
invoked by her prodigal status (Hurston 12).
Jude Hill 5th Period

Janie and Nanny were both treated differently, and often for the worse, simply because
traditions in their society that affected how people viewed them. Whether it be because of Nannys
previous enslavement or Janies upbringing near a white family, their lives were altered by societal
structures that gave others, and even themselves, a single story. Thus proving that societal structures
can do more harm than good.