Bonds of Love In the novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, author Zora Neale Hurston perfectly tells the story of a young girl who grows up to become a strong, confident black woman. The book displays many themes concerning Janie’s life and the constant events that reveal her thoughts and feelings. The main characters in the book who directly affect Janie are Nanny, Logan, Jody, and Tea Cake. All four characters influence Janie and shape the way she loves people in her life. One of the most significant themes of the book is growth which is commonly demonstrated through the depths in relationships that Janie has with others. Hurston includes various characters that influence Janie as a person, including the first character in the book, Nanny, her loving grand-mother. The reader learns about the strong bond between Janie and her “Nanny” which was straightforward, strict but also loving, as a guardian should be. Though they often bickered with each other, Janie developed her morals and learned the most important lessons from Nanny. Janie is caught sneaking around and she gets an earful of disappointment from her Nanny just a few minutes later. “[Her] words made Janie’s kiss across the gatepost seem like a manure pile after a rain” (13) writes Hurston elaborating on Nanny’s thoughts. This specific line is important to the book because Hurston uses an empowering simile which strengthens the bond between the reader and Janie. Nanny rarely lies to Janie, and when the matter is important, like a male significant other, Nanny feels the need to tell Janie what is right and specifically that she is disappointed. As Nanny grows old, and warns Janie what is to come, they start to imagine what life would be like without each other. She is told to stay strong, and cherish the bonding moments which will soon be memories. Janie soon realizes her sudden independence showing her true power and confidence. Although she is beginning to feel like an independent woman, she is simultaneously forced into a marriage that she really has no care for. Janie must decide to marry Logan or not. She listens to her Nanny because she knows her grand-mother always wants the best for her. Nanny makes it clear that Janie needs someone to protect her. After Nanny dies, Janie is left constantly thinking of her future. “She knew now that marriage did not make love. Janie’s first dream was dead, so she became a woman” (25). Her childhood is over and the realization that she has to be independent and marry a man she doesn’t even like is evident. Hurston concludes their heartfelt relationship, proving that Nanny’s impact upon Janie will contribute greatly to Janie’s self-growth. Oftentimes, Janie thinks about her life and how she isn’t living to the fullest. Her marriage with Logan prohibits her from enjoying simple tasks she otherwise would do if she were on her own. During one of the group chats, Janie inserts herself into the conversation only to be cut off by Logan. “You gettin’ too moufy, Janie… Go fetch me da checker-board and de checkers…”(75). She loses the glimmer of happiness that voicing her opinion had always brought her. Logan is constantly telling her what to do, and ordering her to do many things for him daily. She constantly feels trapped because they never discuss their problems, leaving Janie sick of the imperious behavior from her husband. One night when lying together, Janie mentions her unhappiness and hints to Logan that she will be leaving one day, which might be soon. He becomes very angry with her and cannot control himself or his feelings. Hurston writes “He flopped over resentful in his agony and pretended to sleep. He hoped that he had hurt her as she had hurt him” (31). As their marriage continues to fall apart, Janie begins seeing a nice man named Joe. He is very kind to Janie and she feels that she needs a new, better, sweeter, and more open relationship. In the following chapters, Janie decides to leave her town, and go away with Joe. Also known as Jody, her soon to be husband convinces her to run away with him because they must explore a new city, and he wants to show her how to be a proper woman. Together they arrive at Eatonville and meet some of the townspeople who let the couple know they do not have a mayor for the city yet. The people explain their struggle with the town’s development, so Jody starts collecting money in order to help with the expansion of land. Jody and Janie Starks begin influencing the great town, Jody becomes the mayor and “Janie was astonished to see the money Jody had spent for the land come back to him so fast...Jody told her to dress up and stand in the store all that evening” (41). Although Janie mostly works the store, and is well known as Mrs. Mayor Starks, she feels that she isn’t that helpful, and becomes concerned that many people think Jody is overruling the individuals of Eatonville and their decision-making. Janie is not the only one on edge about Jody and his power, Hurston explains “The town had a basketful of feelings good and bad about Joe’s positions and possessions, but none had the temerity to challenge him..” (50). Since becoming Mayor, it is clear that he is most passionate about his actions towards ruling, rather than his wife and a possible family. Janie grows distant as Joe faces the truth about his age and his sickness. They spend the last few days together miserable, negative and quarrelling. Janie and Eatonville become disenchanted with Jody, but also thankful for his help and joy. Although grief surrounded the town including Janie, she admits that their separation and unhappiness took over because of Jody’s influential actions. Contrastingly, Janie begins to feel more aware of herself, what she believes in, and how she really wants to spend the rest of her life. She realizes that she has lived her young and fun years, she is accepting her past, taking responsibility for her decisions, and looking forward to her future. Nevertheless, she meets Tea Cake and they fall into a sweet bond of happiness. They spend a lot of quality time doing exciting activities that Janie never thought she would do, including: fishing, planting, hunting, and learning to shoot a gun. Janie especially enjoys the company of Tea Cake and the most pivotal activity was playing games with him. The feeling of joy is shown throughout the characters, and Hurston explains the shock of the surrounding individuals by stating: “They played away the evening again. Everybody was surprised at Janie playing checkers but they liked it” (101). After playing and laughing through most of their hangouts, Janie starts to feel real love for Tea Cake, and he returns it with deepened affection. In the past, Janie has had many faulty relationships that began and ended in an array of scenarios but now she really feels at ease especially with herself, and living in this happy way for the rest of her years. As Tea Cake and Janie lay together, and chat, he says “Ah been wishin’ so bad tuh git mah hands in yo’ hair. It’s so pretty. It feels jus’ lak underneath uh dove’s wing next to mah face” (103). Tea Cake substantially impacts Janie with his sweet words, which ultimately helps her love herself because he loves her so much. Hurston writes the character of Janie as a continuously impacted person, therefore it is impossible to show that Janie didn’t grow and learn to love because of each relationship. All of the main characters who raised her, taught her, and married her, have contributed to Janie’s heartfelt story in Their Eyes Were Watching God. By the end, Janie surely has become a strong and independent woman regardless of the outcome of each relationship. Works Cited
Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God. Harper Perennial, 2006.
I wrote this essay in the beginning of my senior year, after reading Their Eyes Were Watching God which I really enjoyed. I chose this essay to display on my page because I feel it is one of the best essays I have ever written, plus I earned a great grade on it.
This next piece is the back side of one of my Algebra 2 homework assignments, which I received full credit on. I really enjoy math and I especially love sharing my skills as well as teaching others. This paper also shows my entire thinking process which is extremely important when turning in work.
American Revolution Project
American Patriot Perspective
The American patriots rebelled against great Britain who was ruling them. Most patriots wanted independence because they thought the recent British laws on the American Colonies violated their rights as British citizens. They wanted the American citizens to gain back their independence from Britain. The patriots wanted their own country and to call it the United States. When the British took over America, the Americans felt that it was very unfair, the way they were treated. The British government made them pay overly priced taxes. The colonies wanted liberty.
Overall, the patriots wanted their freedom from the British and their over controlling government. Thomas Jefferson was a patriot icon to many colonists fighting for their rights. He wrote the Declaration Of Independence with the help from John Adams. George Washington was also a very important patriot who led the continental army. The important patriots of the United States are now known as the founding fathers. The main reasons for the patriots to rebel against the British was: they were invading their land, treating the colonists poorly, and taxing them.
Most colonists at this time were upset by British coming and interrupting their rules. The biggest thing that affected the British in a positive way, was the money from the forced taxes from the colonists. The reaction of the colonists is what I expect, they were surprised but immediately repulsive, questioning why and responding with no. Other than the irritation from the taxes, the British troops treated the colonists terribly. They were harshly punished when they resisted. The Revolutionary War was very similar to many other wars regarding violence and at this time, taxes!
Loyalist Perspective
Loyalists are people living in America under British rule and not rebelling against the British. They wanted and did not care if they were considered a British citizen even if they lived in America. The loyalists did not want to break away from the British, they did not mind the ruling. They felt that some people were treated poorly but they believed that it wasn’t as bad as a problem as the Patriots think. Some of these people were afraid to speak up against the British so they decided to hold back and become a British citizen, supporting Great Britain. Other people knew that England trade was very important for the American economy, and wanted to continue business interests with England. Still, people thought that British rule was way easier to deal with than Patriot rule.
Since the loyalists lost the war, there aren't as many famous loyalists as there are patriots. Benedict Arnold was a general in the Continental Army who went to fight for the British. Another famous loyalist was Joseph Galloway who was the Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress but later worked for the British army.The loyalists life became increasingly difficult during the war. Loyalists who lived in areas controlled by the patriots were in constant danger from radical patriots. Many of them lost their homes and businesses. Many loyalists left the country and went back to Britain.
Some loyalists decided to help the British fight the patriots. They either joined the British army or formed their own groups of fighters such as the Loyal Greens and the Royal American Regiment.Many loyalists moved to England after the war ended. A lot of them lost their fortunes and land that they had built up over the years in the Americas. In some cases the British government paid them for their loyalty, but it was usually not nearly as much as they had lost. The United States government wanted the loyalists to stay. They felt the new country could use their skills, education and especially war tactics.
African American Perspective
At the time of the American Revolution, slaves made up at least 25 percent of the population of North Carolina. There were many African Americans is the united states at this time, and of course they all had an opinion towards the American Revolution. There were 70 thousand African Americans but less than five percent of them were considered free. The African Americans, whether they were slaves or free people, they lived in the countryside and worked the land, planting, harvesting, and preparing crops for market. Those who lived in North Carolina worked at trades or were servants to slaveholders. A few of them were “hired out” by their owners to work for others who needed their labor. All of their earnings, except perhaps for a small allowance, went to the slaves’ owners.
Skilled slaves worked as carpenters, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, and in many other skilled occupations. In other places, like Wilmington and New Bern, which were on the coast, they worked in trades that were important to the shipping business. Also in these towns, they may have controlled parts of the local economy, for example, selling almost all the food staples, fish, and birds.
By 1775, more than a half million African Americans lived in the 13 colonies. Many Africans tried to participate in the war instead of working flor slave owners. The African Americans thought the British needed to back off and find other land. Most Africans supported the loyalists and they too were treated terribly for resisting and just being in the united states. Although, almost all the African Americans were enslaved people, they still supported the Americans having the right of the land.
Native American Perspective
The native Americans were in the United states before the so called “Americans’ or Europeans. But they did not want their land taken away from either group. Most native Americans were loyalists trying to remain in control of their land. The native Americans who wanted to participate in the war, went to war very early. A few specific tribes aided the British, they were not considered patriots, but they supported the British by taking away the land from the Americans. Since the Europeans took away the native American land, they thought it would be payback to get their land taken away from them. Many native Americans had a strong hate towards the Europeans who originally stole their land and claimed it for their own colonies to thrive.
The native Americans had opinions but the British still wanted to take over because the Europeans took the land from the Indians. Some native Americans did not have a specific opinion, people who were neutral were called fence-sitters. This is a term used when people do not have a yes or no answer, they are more in the middle and have thoughts relating to both sides of the debate. Some British troops, American colonists, Africans and Indians were fence-sitters. Many people during this time, choose their side in which they strongly supported, and others were just neutral and undecided.
In conclusion, the British soldiers and people were patriots. The American colonists were loyalists. The African Americans were mainly loyalists. And the native Americans were controversial but mostly loyalists ideas.
Works Cited
“The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Advanced Placement United States History Study Guide.” The Indians' War of Independence | AP US History Study Guide from The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, 17 Sept. 2012, https://ap.gilderlehrman.org/essay/indians'-war-independence.
Part 2: The Quartering Act was established in 1765. This act was about making sure all of the British troops were provided with housing. This meant that some British troops invaded the colonists houses and made it their own. The colonists thought this was very unfair, that their house would be lived in by British soldiers fighting in the war. The colonists rebelled and there was great fighting. When the American colonists resisted, they were punished and treated terribly by the British. This was a very hard time for the American colonists but soon after this war, they finally declared independence. I believe that the British troops and British people overall were in the wrong. The American colonists only wanted independence and to be free from the British rule. I am glad that the colonists won later, but they should not have been treated poorly because they resisted against the British. I think it is cruel to own any people, so the colonists never should have owned slaves, but this debate is focused on the British rule and the colonists against it. I would have rebelled as much as possible when the British invaded the colonists homes. If I lived in the 13 colonies during the time of the American revolution, I would definitely be and support the loyalists point of view.
Finally I picked this US History research paper that I spent a very long time completing. I had to find all my information, cite it, and organize the information in this layout. I chose this because, even though I am not the best and I don't really enjoy history, I can still write consistently and provide a strong paper with a lot of key information.