Analysis Of Zora Neale Hurston 's ' The Eyes Were Watching God '

2388 WordsNov 28, 201610 Pages
Zora Neale Hurston grew up in a predominantly African American town and because of how she grew up, she did not experience the segregation and prejudice that other African Americans felt in their daily lives until she moved from her hometown at a much older age. Because her community was predominantly colored, she grew up embracing her ethnicity instead of learning she should feel ashamed of her ethnicity and the white people surrounding her had more worth. Hurston, shows in her works Their Eyes Were Watching God and “How it Feels to be Colored Me,” that she believes that pride in oneself comes before all else and fostering personal growth and relationships best helps in maintaining a state of self satisfaction. Hurston believes in the necessity of pride in oneself to best interact with others and maintain control over a strong and stable life. To best live that fulfilling life, one must take control of his life and work. A person capable of holding his head up regardless of what happens around him is the starting point for being able to not let anything hurt him. Hurston demonstrates her belief in the necessity of personal pride through her character Janie who “emerges as the racial and sexual victor by taking ownership of her body on her own terms” (Lee 142). Janie, “an idealized projection of Hurston herself,” uses her determination and pride in who she is to stand up for herself and her “racial and sexual” qualities, which she embraces to be her own woman (Beauchamp
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