CRITICAL ANALYSIS ESSAY
Prof: Uhl
FIQWS 10800
NOV 14th , 2017
Janie’s identity
Knowing yourself is the beginning all wisdom. In Their eyes were watching god, Janie's path to breaking free from to the persecution of character and discovering her power is associated with nature. Janie’s encounter with the pear tree leads her escape from the mindset constrained upon females in Janie’s community, eventually finding her identity. Janie’s sense of agency is destroyed because of the mule’s attachment to her identity as a woman.
There is defiant moment in one’s life that changes their perspective on life significantly. Janie’s significant moment was under the pear tree at her grandma’s garden as “She saw a dust- bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom; the thousand sister-calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree from root to tiniest branch creaming in every blossom and frothing with delight. So this was a marriage! She had been summoned to behold a revelation.” (11 Hurston). Janie witnesses an erotic moment in nature where the male honey bee isn't abusive, and the bloom isn't feeble as it gives a shared grasp of affection. By witnessing this union, Janie gets a first vision of how a relationship or rather a marriage, ought to be based on mutual consent, sexual fulfillment, freedom of creativity and self-expression. Her comprehension of marriage develops from it being a source of security -like what nanny and the rest of the community around her accept- to an equal love where passion does not result in possession, but rather a beautiful union between two individuals. Furthermore, this atmosphere Janie lives in creates her sense of difference and rebellion. In other words, it sets Janie free the mistreated outlook on marriage that is compelled upon females in Janie’s community, giving her the freedom to seek a life with a loving marriage that does not result in oppression towards identity. Due to Janie’s desire for the ideal love portrayed by nature, she emerges as a sexual being who starts to question “where are the bees singing for me”? (Hurston 11). By questioning when will she encounter this ideal love, Janie’s sense of agency is developed as she associates herself -even if it’s only on her mind- in an equal relationship, allowing herself to break free from the persecuted mindset constrained upon females in Janie’s community. Janie’s outlook on love fortifies her with a motivation forward, putting her on the road to finding her voice and sense of self. Due to this new perspective on love, Janie is left with a deep desire with will grant her sexual fulfillment as well as the freedom of self-expression. Because of Janie’s budding sexuality, she kisses Johnny Taylor, further demonstrating her emerging power as she projects her dream of finding a self-fulling love into the world. The way Janie perceive Johnny Taylor is described by Glenda Weathers as “To her, Johnny Taylor signifies creative impulse.” (Page 2). The shared kiss with Johnny represents the spark of curiosity that sets Janie on her quest for self-discovery. She explores her curiosity of love by kissing Johnny. The fact that Janie felt no affection to Johnny before her sexual epiphany under the pear tree accentuation her increasing sense of agency. This ability to create an imagination and to apply it in her reality creates a substantial distinction amongst Janie and the other ladies in the story as she didn’t acknowledge her confined life, rather she perceived what she desires to see by anticipating her fantasy into the world. Although Janie sense of self starts to develop, her new found power does not last as Nanny confront her with a life-changing decision.
As Janie’s sense of identity emerges, it is stripped away from her as Nanny, upon seeing the kiss, believes that Janie grew into womanhood and decides to wed her off to a wealthy old farmer named Logan Kellicks. Nanny's experience as a slave stamped her worldview with a strong concern for financial security. Nanny’s values clash with Janie's independence and desire for love and independency. Glenda Weathers demonstrates the different views on love between Janie and Nanny when stating: “Nanny interprets the pear tree as a tree of death and shame, whereas the sexually conscious Janie sees the tree's life-affirming nature.” (page 3) In Nanny’s perspective, marriage is to provide protection and financial stability, however, Janie views it as a beautiful spiritually and sexually fulfilling union. Weathers states; “Replete with the promise of fecundity, the pear tree argues against the tyranny of control that nanny unwisely, perhaps unwillingly chooses.”(page 4) Because of her encounter with the pear tree, Janie becomes aware of the limitation of her life with Nanny. Weathers further demonstrates Janie’s oppression when he argues that “Nanny marries Janie off to Logan Killicks, theoretically to “protect her (13-14). But from Janie’s perspective “protection” signifies a prophylactic that prevents life-her own”. (page 4) Upon Janie’s objection to marriage, Nanny explains how the power hierarchy places black women on the bottom as " 'de mule[s] uh de world' " (Hurston 29). The mule represents the way African women are treated in Janie’s society. Furthermore, Nanny uses the mule’s symbol in a way to silence Janie’s voice and to force her to surrender to social standards. In other words, by implementing this marriage, Nanny and the society force Janie to conform to social racial and sexual placement. Janie’s sense of agency is destroyed because of the mule’s attachment to her identity as a woman.
Janie’s marriage to Logan kills her dream of love. Janie states; “ah wants things sweet wid mah marriage lak when you sit under a pear tree and think. Ah. . .” (Hurston, Eyes 24). The pear tree represents the liberating love that Janie desires. Farah Mahmood states “Logan, as an old man, treats Janie as if she is a servant not caring for love or emotions. He wants to live the conventional marital life. For Logan as for Nanny, marriage is a matter of pragmatism. He wants a working housewife who manages his house and takes care of him.” (page 606) Logan’s marriage taints the pear tree. Instead of treating Janie as his equal, empowering her, and sexually fulling her, Logan oppresses her as he treats her like mule completely taking away her sense of self. Again, the association of Janie with the mule is always attached to her lack of agency. Due to society linking the mule with Women, Janie is unable to sustain any identity as her voice is completely cut off. Killicks tells Janie "You ain't got no particular place. It's wherever Ah need yuh" (52) Logan expresses the fact that she holds no importance to him as he can place her whenever he wants to-just like how a master would treat his or her mule. Logan’s marriage stands against everything that the pear tree stands for as the “Vision of Logan Killicks was desecrating the pear tree, but Janie didn’t know how to tell Nanny that” (Hurston, 30). Janie realizes that her marriage to Logan holds no love as she cannot find her identity through it. Hurston states; “She knew now that marriage did not make love. Janie's first dream was dead, so she became a woman'' (35). The reason this marriage cannot thrive is because that of their power imbalance; Janie isn't willing to work with Logan, and Logan isn't willing to "talk in rhymes"(13). Just like a mule is bought without consent, Janie is forced to marry Logan. Another resemblance between Janie and oppressed mule is that fact that both work hard with no appreciation. And the fact that they’re utterly powerless against their rulers. Though Logan oppresses Janie, she soon finds a way to break free from that mule-like oppression.
Janie’s sense of agency come back to her, eventually leading her to take powerful actions against Logan. After two months of a loveless marriage to Logan, Janie confronts Nanny who in return tells her to wait. Janie waits for one year, but then realizes that her marriage would not provide her with the independence, sexual fulfillment, and spiritual satisfaction that she witnessed in the pear tree. Janie senses that she is yet to explore the possibilities of life and to experience her idealized love. After meeting joe who’s an ambitious man that seeks new opportunities in a faraway town, Janie starts to look far beyond what fate bestowed upon her. She elopes with Joe not caring about the consequences or what her community will think of her as her desire to find her identity take over her ambition. Even though Joe does not present the love of the pear tree, he does promise her change and a new beginning which is good enough to Janie. Janie's awareness that this marriage will not bring love makes her realize that her dreams can only be fulfilled through her pursuit of them. She assesses the end of their relationship and by eloping with Joe. (Mohmood) This demonstrates the effect of the pear tree on Janie as it gives her ability to leave an undesirable, negative relationship. This act of rebellion strengthens her and allows her to regain her sense of agency, however just like before, Janie’s power is once again taken away because of her association with the mule.
The mule symbol comes back to haunt Janie throughout her marriage to Joe. After Joe takes the position of the mayor, he begins to act differently towards Janie. Upon his new power, Joe starts to oppress Janie in the same way –if not worse-as Logan did. He regards her in the way a mule is addressed. For example, when Joe is giving a speech, and the town citizens asks for Janie to speak, Joe opposes the idea. Hurston states; “She remains an inarticulate possession. She desires speech, but endures speechlessness, knowing that her talking-out will simply provoke Jody''(100) Janie’s voice is silence by Joe, once again proving to her that marriage does not result in love. Throughout the years, Joe forces Janie to work at the store, tie her hair up to hide her individuality, and not associate herself with the town people. Upon seeing how their situation parallels together, Janie Pities Matt’s mule as it was mocked by the town. Both Janie and the mule, are silenced and can’t express their dismay. The mule was overworked, yet unappreciated much like Janie. Upon hearing Janie’s pity remarks towards the oppressed mule, Joe buys it, setting it free from its master. Janie delivers an ironic speech comparing Joe saving the mule, with Abraham Lincoln saving the salves. Mahmoud argues “Janie's juxtaposition of the freeing of slaves with the freeing of the mule shows the ironic contrast between the importance of what Joe has done and what Lincoln did. It also links servitude to the state of the mule; thus, Janie's servitude to Joe is less important to him than the "servitude" of the mule.” After joe buys the mule, Janie is baffled by how Joe would save a mule from its oppressed life, yet he wouldn’t keep her from hers. Symbolically, Janie, upon the mule’s death, breaks free from the social constraint, and starts to voice her opinion. This incident helps bring back the powerful side of Janie. She is no longer able to hide her voice as she uses it to shield herself when Joe would yell at her. For instance, when Joe mocks her appearance in the store, she speaks against his face for the first time because she has had enough from him. She orders Joe to stop mocking her appearance and behavior because he is not better. As the mule dies, Janie starts to live genuinely. The death of the mule represents the end of Janie’s restrained identity. She no longer associates herself with the mule, but instead speaks her opinion with radiating confidence. As the mule dies, Janie’s lack of agency dies as well. As joe falls ill, the seat of power is reversed. When she realizes that Joe is about to die, she ignores his command for her to stay out of the sick room and confronts him one last time. When she faces her oppressor, she reverses the seat of power. With the absence of the mule and Joe from Janie’s life, Janie can conquer the oppressing social standards of women as well as the oppression of men. (Weathers)
Janie is yet to experience a love that fulfils her. When she meets Tea Cake her life changes. Her marriage to tea cake resembles the love of the pear tree as she can find her identity through it. Tea cake allows her to engage is simple things, treats her as his equal, and encourages her to express herself. Tea cake and Janie both desire each other with the same intensity much like the bee and the pollen. Weathers states “At this point in her narrative, Hurston once again presents a tree image against which Janie con- templates Tea Cake's potential. Hopes for the future blend with images of her past, for Janie thinks Tea Cake looks 'Tike the love thoughts of women. He could be a bee to a blossom- a pear tree blossom in the spring" (101).” By experiencing a love that resembles the pear tree, Janie able to find her identity, and become independent. She is no longer silent. ven after Tea cakes death, his memory will still be with her till she dies. Jaine is finally able to be in harmony with herself after experiencing the beautiful love that the pear tree represented.
The visual imagery in the story had a significant impact on Janie’s sense of agency. The pear tree strengthens Janie’s character as it helps her break free from the constraint on black’s women, as well as it led her to eventually find her identity by guiding her through her oppression. Janie’s sense of agency is destroyed because of the mule’s attachment to her identity as a woman.
WORK CITED
Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God. New York :Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006. Print.
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Their Eyes Were Watching God." International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English
Literature [Online], 4.5 (2015): 124-128. Web. 14 Nov. 2017
Weathers, Glenda B. “Biblical Trees, Biblical Deliverance: Literary Landscapes of Zora Neale
Hurston and Toni Morrison.” African American Review, vol. 39, no. 1/2, 2005, pp. 201–212.
JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40033648.
Farah, A Mahmood. “The concept of Love and Marriage in Zora Neale Hurston's
Their Eyes Were Watching God” vol.22, 2011, pp. 600-612.
