Contextual Elements
In the novel their eyes were watching God there were many examples of
historical context. Hurston showed us three different kinds of context, socio-
economic, political, and entertainment.
An example of socio-economic context is the way Janie’s husbands treated
her. First Janie married Logan who treated her good at the beginning but after
awhile expected her to do everything. Then, Janie married Joe who also treated her
good but towards the end became bitter and treated her cruelly. Janie’s last husband
Tea Cake always did what he thought was best for their marriage. Tea Cake made
sure he kept Janie happy and he always made her feel loved. All of Janie’s husbands
loved her but they came from different social groups and had different standards.
Logan lived on the farm so he expected Janie to do outside work as well as indoor
work. Joe was the mayor of a town so he expected Janie to work in the store but
mostly he just wanted her to sit around and look pretty. Tea Cake genuinely loved
Janie so he didn’t have standards he just wanted to be by her and love her.
An example of political context was the way people treated Janie throughout
the book. Janie was treated differently based on where she lived and what color man
she was married to. When Janie was married to Logan she was left alone because he
was white. When she married Joe she was treated well even though he was a black
man. When she was married to Tea Cake she was treated descent. Janie had a nice
life married to Joe and Tea Cake because they were in all black communities. “This
new concept, segregation , evolved and was predominant from the late 1800's
through the first half of the 1900's”(StudyMode).
Lastly, an example of entertainment context is the way people did things
back in the 1800’s. Janie and Tea Cake would go fishing late on night for
entertainment. They didn’t have television and cellphones, they played checkers and
talked all night long instead. “Less us go fishin’, fishin’? Dis time uh night? Unhhunh,
fishin”(Hurston).
Hurston uses many different kinds of historical context to teach us a lesson
while telling a story. She uses three different types to mixes it up and keep the
reader interested. I believe Hurston’s lessons are important and we should apply
them to our own lives.
Work Cited:
StudyMode.com. 10 December. 1999. 16 December.2012
<http://www.studymode.com/essays/Racism-After-Civil-War-12764.html>.
Zora Neale Hurston. Their Eyes Were Watching God. Harper perennial modern classics. New York: Harper Collins,2006.
historical context. Hurston showed us three different kinds of context, socio-
economic, political, and entertainment.
An example of socio-economic context is the way Janie’s husbands treated
her. First Janie married Logan who treated her good at the beginning but after
awhile expected her to do everything. Then, Janie married Joe who also treated her
good but towards the end became bitter and treated her cruelly. Janie’s last husband
Tea Cake always did what he thought was best for their marriage. Tea Cake made
sure he kept Janie happy and he always made her feel loved. All of Janie’s husbands
loved her but they came from different social groups and had different standards.
Logan lived on the farm so he expected Janie to do outside work as well as indoor
work. Joe was the mayor of a town so he expected Janie to work in the store but
mostly he just wanted her to sit around and look pretty. Tea Cake genuinely loved
Janie so he didn’t have standards he just wanted to be by her and love her.
An example of political context was the way people treated Janie throughout
the book. Janie was treated differently based on where she lived and what color man
she was married to. When Janie was married to Logan she was left alone because he
was white. When she married Joe she was treated well even though he was a black
man. When she was married to Tea Cake she was treated descent. Janie had a nice
life married to Joe and Tea Cake because they were in all black communities. “This
new concept, segregation , evolved and was predominant from the late 1800's
through the first half of the 1900's”(StudyMode).
Lastly, an example of entertainment context is the way people did things
back in the 1800’s. Janie and Tea Cake would go fishing late on night for
entertainment. They didn’t have television and cellphones, they played checkers and
talked all night long instead. “Less us go fishin’, fishin’? Dis time uh night? Unhhunh,
fishin”(Hurston).
Hurston uses many different kinds of historical context to teach us a lesson
while telling a story. She uses three different types to mixes it up and keep the
reader interested. I believe Hurston’s lessons are important and we should apply
them to our own lives.
Work Cited:
StudyMode.com. 10 December. 1999. 16 December.2012
<http://www.studymode.com/essays/Racism-After-Civil-War-12764.html>.
Zora Neale Hurston. Their Eyes Were Watching God. Harper perennial modern classics. New York: Harper Collins,2006.