DJ-1
Ships at a distance
have every man’s wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others
they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the
Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time.
That is the life of men. – Narrator PG 1
In Z. Hurston’s novel the idea that it isn’t how long life
is, but how a person chooses to use the time allotted. This is brought up in
the opening paragraph of the book. Two examples are given to illustrate it, one
of a person who gives up on their dreams after a life of chasing the other of a
person whose wishes are fulfilled easily. Chance’s role in life is exceedingly
obvious, but it is the person’s own goals that can get in the way of their
happiness regardless of luck or outside factors.
DJ-2
…skins felt powerful
and human. They became lords of sounds and lesser things…They sat in judgment.
- Narrator PG 1
The transformation of average people to something more
symbolic is presented strongly in page one.
At first these people just chatting away on their porches in the evening
light seem like a happy normality, but by changing the words accorded to them,
Hurston alters the scene significantly. She uses the people in a syndoche to
show a society of judgment spawned from envy and boredom. They had worked hard
but thoughtlessly all day and now their minds are switched on. This repetition
and lack of mental stimulation gives way to envy and fear of anything new and
challenging.
DJ-3
Pearl Stone opened her
mouth and laughed real hard because she didn’t know what else to do. - Narrator
PG 3
Uncertainty creates anxiety and distrust. It can be a
weakness as well because uncertainty is a lack of knowledge. One defense
against seeming weak is a counter attack. In page three, Pearl Stone attacks
the protagonist by mocking her. This outside character illustrates how
oftentimes society opposes an individuals wishes or desires, no matter the
cause. Her name is also a contrast to her inner personality which seems to be
lacking in both beauty and steadfastness.
DJ-4
De booger man might
ketch yuh. – Mrs. Sumpkins PG 4
Mrs. Sumpkins is an embodiment of the nosy, uselss people in
TEWWG. She has so little in her own life that is fulfilling, that she has to
resort to threats and hints to make a point. She tells Phoebey about the boggie
man, but the deeper meaning is Janie might not be so nice or her story not that
enjoyable. This relates back to her own fear that Janie has lead a more fulfilling
and interesting life than herself.
DJ-5
Gal, you sho looks
good. You looks like youse yo’ own daughter. – Phoebe PG 4
The years have been kind to the free-wheeling Janie. Most
people associate youth with wildness and a certain freedom, and the characters
in TEWWG are no different. Janie, for the times, is wild. Her outer
youthfulness is reflective of her inner spirit. This comment on her physical
appearance shows how noticeable her character is. Others envy her both her
appearance and interesting life.
DJ -6
…still sittin’ in the
same place. – Janie PG 5
Although there is security in home and roots, which is
mentioned many times in TEWWG, there is freedom in the opposite. Janie’s life
is patches of different scenery and people, but she comes back to the place she
was from. Janie expresses a certain disgust regarding her watchers. Her life
has opened her eyes to many different people, place, and things, while the
stuck folks are in the same place. To someone that has traveled, these people
seem mundane and boring.
DJ-7
…they liable to hurry
theyself to Judgment to find out about you if
they don’t know soon. – Phoebey PG 6
Phoebey is very astute when describing the townspeople. Her
description of them as being so curious they would bring everything to an end
just to get information is astute. Through this hyperbole, Phoebey describes
their viciousness. They seem willing to do anything, moral or not, to get what
they want. Their lack of morals is disheartening, especially in comparison with
Janie, who has a solid base of virtues.
DJ-8
So ‘tain’t no use in
me telling you somethin’ unless Ah give you de understandin’ to go ‘long wid
it. – Janie PG 7
Janie shows her wisdom and thoughtfulness in this quote. She
explains that there is information in everything, but most can’t understand it
until a key is given. The key could be a hint, or a book, or a friend’s
explanation. It also describes many situations where people know only a part of
the thing/situation and miss an essential part thereby misinterpreting the
whole point. This is what happened to the townspeople in regards to Janie.
DJ-9
Time makes everything
old… - Narrator PG 7
This description by the unknown narrator is ominous. The
quote fits many of the chapters in Janie’s life. He relationship with Logan got
old and rotted, her relationship with Jody got so old and unhappy, Janie felt
like the earth, old and solid, but unfeeling. This line also emphasizes how
even Janie’s vibrant life can become old and reflects her coming back to her
first town.
DJ-10
Janie saw her life
like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered, things enjoyed, things done
and undone. Dawn and doom was in the branches. – Narrator PG 8
At this point in the story, Janie has done and gone thorugh
many stages of her life. A tree is a beautiful creation and to have Janie’s
life compared to it is very flattering. This also relates back to one of the
themes, Janie’s life as a living, evolving thing. Her being is compared with
nature and fertility.
No comments:
Post a Comment