Journal #3- Their Eyes Were Watching God

Hurston's Style:

1. "Dat woman don't want you. You gut tuh learn dat all de women in de world ain't been brought upon no teppentine still, and no saw-mill camp. There's some women dat jus' ain't for you tuh broach. You can't git her wid no fish sandwich" (pg 39)

In the section, the way the Cker talks about Janie is as if she is an object, talking about how to 'git' her, versus treating her as an equal. This leads to a prevalent feminist theme in the novel. Also, it helps show how men are allowed to speak of women during this time period. Not only this, but since Janie is perceived to be beautiful, it is as if the author is portraying that men in this time had to make grand gestures to beautiful women, but the 'normal' women didn't have to receive this kind of treatment, just a fish sandwich.

2. Janie full of that oldest human longing- self revelation (pg 7)

The sentence blatantly shows that Janie has a story to tell about what she has discovered about herself, and cleverly foreshadows the events ahead- basically that her life story is about to take place. It also helps tie into the themes of feminism within the text, showing Janie having these longings as all people do, showing women as not only people but equals.

3. "Ah wuz wid dem white chillun so much til Ah didn't know Ah wuzn't white til Ah was round six years old" (pg 8)

This can be a hint of a greater theme of power- because Janie was treated as a white child, she thought she was  one. Then, when she discovered she was black, she became a second-class citizen in her society- another example of oppression and having someone have power over yourself.

4. "Pheoby hurried on off with a covered bowl in her hands." (pg 4)

The phrase 'on off' is very interesting in terms of style, because the sentence could either use on or off separately, together or not at all and still have the same concept, even though on and off are technically opposities.

5. "Only dis one time, Nanny. Ah don't love him at all. Whut made me do it is- oh, Ah don't know"
"Thank yuh, Massa Jesus" (pg 15)

Even though Janie is agreeing to get married, if you look at her words carefully, it is apparent that she is basically saying 'Ok, I'll do this one time  for you Nanny.' Then, Janie's grandmother responds with a praise to Christ. However, saying I'll do this act this one time is almost a way of foreshadowing the future marriages of Janie and is almost mocking Christianity with Nanny's praising of God with this 'one time' agreement from Janie.