Consider the following:
Evidence that the book has a feminist message
- Janie chooses the man that she wants
- Janie is a female who gains power throughout the story
- The men trying to control her meet bad ends
- She makes her own decisions
Evidence that the book DOES NOT have a feminist message
- Janie is the hero, but there are few other significant female characters.
- She is most influenced by the men in her life.
- She becomes more independent through the freedom granted to her from Joe Starks’ money.
- Tea Cake teaches her to play checkers, drive a car, and shoot a gun.
In the end, what is the novel’s message? is it really a feminist text?
Choose either that the novel is or is not a feminist text and write one paragraph (5-7 sentences) defending your stance. How is your point right despite the evidence to the contrary?
Janie is great example of a black female hero. Because Janie was able to make her decisions of the man she was able to chose, which each man was able to teach her something about herself. Janie is able to separate herself from a man controlled world that why the other women are not as important as her. With each marriage Janie is able to gain power. Each time a man tries they meet a terrible end and Janie earns their power. That is why Janie is a great female hero.
ReplyDeleteLeslie Sanders Jr
ReplyDelete10/17/17
English IV
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Their eyes were watching god is a feminist story because janie was a young female who was trying to find love but also wanted to explore the world and to see different things like her first boyfriend logan he was trying to get her to be the wife that helps around like cleaning working around the house help him with the farm but janie didn’t want to do that she wanted to get out and explore so she left him and started talking to this guy name joe starks who was very old and was claiming her to be his little old lady as well and they got married but he had kidney failure where he was dying and he was the type of man that didn’t want her to talk to anybody just to sit back and be his little queen on the side and while he was dying she was told him how she didn’t love him basically the author is feminist that she will never let one man hold her back from her just being herself she just gone always folks on one thing and that's telling people her story.
Jazmin Wright
ReplyDelete10/17/17
English IV
In Their Eyes Were Watching God is a feminists store. Why because Janie was a young female who was trying to find deep love, how to explore the world, also to see many things in different ways. Logan her first husband started off sweet, loving her then changed like her grandmother said he would. He wanted her to clean, work around the house, help him with the farm. Now Janie did not want to she wanted to explore, so she up and left Logan for another man named Joe that was much younger than her.Soon or later they got married and and made a different in a whole different town where Janie was known as Ms.Woods. Later find out he was dying from Kidney failure and as he was getting sick he didn't want to talk to Janie made everyone watch over her, made sure she was doing what she said she was doing. But Joe also wouldn't let Janie have a tone, couldn't to for herself or anyone topic. That's how this book is feminist
Their Eyes Were Watching God is not a feminist text. Throughout the story females were belittled and treated like crap. In Janie's first relationship Janie was the depiction of anti-feminism. She refused to do outdoor labor because she has titled it as 'men work'. Therefore, Janie was implying that females shouldn't do hard labor or that females aren't built for it. In her second relationship with Jody she wasn't even treated like a human being. Janie had given Jody full control of her life as if she was some sort of object. She gave the okay for people to assume that they can treat woman anyway they feel. After that relationship she got into one last one with Tea Cake. In this relationship she just seemed to have no sense of dependency. Tea Cake had to teach her how to do such trivial things such as play checkers, drive a car, and to shoot a gun. This may seem like any reason to throw out there but if she really wanted to she could've learned these things by herself but put no effort forward. This pushes across a message that women need men to teach us how to do anything and everything. This book is far from a feminist text. If anything this book should be a campaign for anti-feminism.
ReplyDeleteIsata Barrie
ReplyDelete10/17/17
English IV
Their Eyes Were Watching God is a feminist Novel because of many reasons. This book is mainly based on a young girl who is just trying to find love. The right love with the right person, her name is Janie and she plays this role. She started out dating a guy name Logan who was the the type of guy that wanted her to be a housewife and work in the fields. But she refused to do that because she was not raised poorly nor was that something she was interested in so she suffered harsh consequences from Logan because of that then she left the relationship. Janie found a new guy named Joe who was very different. He was younger and she had much love for him , Janie and him eventually got married. Joe was a husband that was overly protected, he was just so conscious of Janie and what she does, she didnt like the feeling but she did not have a choice. But things got rocky when he had a kidney failure and passed away. She then had to find new ways. That is why this novel is feminist.
Their eyes were watching god is a feminist book. This book talks about a young girl and her relationship that she had with her husband and also family. In this book it tells us all the things that she had experienced throughout her lifetime. The young girl name Janie was in a relationship but she had ended up leaving her husband . He was abbusive to her controlled her and didn’t want her to be able to do anything. She just wanted to be loved and he couldn’t do that for her so she left him and she had moved on and found somebody that did love her over all . Her grandmom always told her that she wanted what was best for her. This book talks about somebody a person like style and what they had to go through this is a feminist book.
ReplyDeleteStarr Little
ReplyDeleteTheir eyes were watching good, is a feminist story about a girl named Janie. It talked about how she dealt with relationships and how she was trying to find a love with the right guy.her first husband who was a guy named Logan was at first the man u dreamed of sweet and loving but then turned into a maniac, something her grandmother been warned her about. Joe's theory was that women should stay home and cook and clean and help out when necessary, while the man is it working and bring things to the table. But that's not the woman Janie was, she wanted to go out and be nearly as equal to a man, so she up and left Logan for another guy who name was Joe. They went off and got married and she later realized how overly protective he was of her. Things too a shift when Joe had gotten sick and had kidney failure and soon died, Janie had to move on again. This is how it's a feminist story.
This novel is not a feminist text. I believe Janie had her own voice and thoughts but didn’t really express them as much as she could because she knew the consequences. Towards the end of the novel she expressed herself more but in the beginning she really didn’t have much of a voice. So I agree with both some what. Jamie just had to develop and find herself to show her feminism.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTheir eyes are watching god is a Feminine text Because of the way Janie Handle's herself and the situations around her. Janie made sure that her thoughts and opinions were voiced and did things at her own command and not at the authority of others. She also knew when to Keep a low profile when it was in her best benefit to do so. People also ended up facing misfortune when they cross Janie. For example, Joe Sparks, one of Janie's former Husbands, treated Janie like a inferior being and was soon faced with an inescapable death. In conclusion, Janie is a well-spoken individual Women, which makes this novel a Feminist text.
ReplyDeleteI think the novel portrays both messages but there are more feminist text that is mention in the book. Janie, a female, whom is our main character, pretty much makes a lot of decisions for herself once her Nanny dies. Janie chooses who she wants to be with and chooses whether or not if she wants her life controlled or not. Throughout the novel Janie also gains power through her voice and some of her actions which is big for her and for her being though she is a woman. I say this because knowing what Janie has been through in her past relationships she finally does what she has been wanting to do and she now buts into conversations that she feel free conversing about with whomever. Another thing is that in the end he men got what they deserved so she wins anyway.
ReplyDeleteHadia Diallo
ReplyDeletePeriod 1st
I believe the novel “ Their eyes were watching god” is not a feminist story. In the novel it talks about a young woman name Janie who is looking for true love. In her first relationship with a older men name Logan that claim that she should do everything around the house and outside labor. In her second marriage with Jody who treated her with no respect at all made her feel ugly and old he believed that he own her like an object. She tries again with a young men name Teacake who is fun and taught he how to drive a shoot a shotgun. Janie was getting treated bad by her husbands because she didn’t speak up and defend herself. Janie didn’t need a men to make her feel happy. That’s why I believe this novel is not a feminist story.
Brianna White
ReplyDeleteAt the end of Their Eyes Were Watching God the novels message is a feminist text because. Through the whole book the author focusses on Janie and her point of view of the problems that she faces with men. She is independent but once she finds a man she replys on him for her needs which is something that women tend to do. Also the story shows how Janie interacts with different types of men and the way each of treat her. Never in the story does the author get the point of view of the other men and why they do what they do. I feel like the author made this novel to show how women are treated by different men and their feelings on it.
Shanice Kidd
ReplyDelete10/17/17
English IV
Overall this book is a feminist book because of how Janie made her own decisions in a book and went against what is considered the proper way women should behave are act at a time like this.She also has the decision to be with who she wants which is also a key detail on the topic because usually women didn't have the say so on these topics.
I think that at the end of the book that it is a feminist book. Janie grows a lot through out the story. Even tho she does seem to have a lot going on with guys she learns from some of them in a good way. She does what she want to do but it also has to do with the lightness of her skin. There are not alot of female characters that did what she did which makes her the hero. Usually books try to portray a guy as the hero but Zora chose to make a woman and a black woman at that the power of the book.
ReplyDeleteTheir Eyes Are Watching God shows a feminist message for many different reasons. Their Eyes Are Watching God shows a typcial African American woman back in the day trying to find love. During that time woman were looked down on and was known for mostly caring for men. This particular novel gives a feminist message because it shows how women are and were treated which caused woman to still have a reputation for only cleaning up after men. This book also shows that it's feminist by making the main book about a women struggle for love and fitting in to a society while being black. For example, Janie hops from marriage to marriage after each one failing due to lack of love, abuse mentally and physically, and by also being treated less then. During that time it was normal for women to be treated such as Janie was. If Janie struggle wasn't showed In the book hence it would not have been feminist.
ReplyDeleteTheir eyes were watching God is not a feminist book. Throughout the text women are belittled, treated like second-class citizen, and objects. Janie who is the main character experiences love in many different ways through three different relationships. In every relationship she is either treated terribly or she acts in an anti feminist sort of way. In janies first relationship with Logan she has a voice but uses it in a week way. Janie complained about how she had a particular role to play and how Logan had a particular role to play as man and wife, she would say things that suggested only men could do hard labor work... not so morally right for a feminist. In her second relationship with Jody Janie stays to herself, does whatever Jodytells her, and doesn't speak up for her self. These are exact things that feminist fight for and the fact that janie cowers away instead of speaking up when she have the full will to completely diminishes any acts of feminism in this relationship. In her last relationship with Tea Cake Janie gives Tea Cake along if leeway for unacceptable things he does. Janie's acts like a women with no control when if comes to this man. Tea Cake hit on Jannie and he would belligerently acted flirtatiously with other women, with the knowledge of these things Jannie continue to love and treat Tea cake well. These acts clearly prove that this book is certainly not a feminist book.
ReplyDeleteNaya Morris
ReplyDeleteOctober 18 2017
this is a feminist novel because janie the main character who is trying to find love . During this time period women were looked down on. This novel is feminist because it shows the way the men treated janie which was disrespectful. If janie struggle wasn’t shown in this book then it would not be feminist. It shows how a african american woman has to struggle in this society while white don’t . Another reason is all janie wants to do is find love and all her marriages failed due to physical abuse and not being treated right .
The novel Eyes were watching god is feminist. this is a feminist novel because janie the main character who is trying to find love . During this time period women were looked down on. Also the novel is feminist because it shows the way the men treated janie which was disrespectful. If janie struggle wasn’t shown in this book then it would not be feminist. It shows how a african american woman has to struggle in this society while whites people don’t . Another reason is all janie wants to do is find love and all her marriages failed due to situations that happened. Janie loved Tea Cake but his illness put her in a predicament to where she had to put him down because he was going crazy.
ReplyDeleteDominaye Mealy
ReplyDeletePeriod 1
In the novel "Their eyes were watching god" portrays as a feminist novel. Throughout the entire book we learn about Janie and how she struggles wit tea cake and others; takin advantage of her because she too nice . The author actually uses lots of symbols , to describe Janie and her lifestyle . The author uses a mule. Throughout the book Janie's main priority was to find love, but the men that decided to be with , apparently weren't for her . They either gave her a rough time or the love just wasn't there . The novel also showed the difference between African Americans and white people. A lady named Mrs.Turner was a white woman who thought she had all of the power in the world an could do or say whatever she wanted. While Janie a black women felt completely different. I feel as though if the book didn't give us in detailed Janie's struggles , and trials and tribulations then it wouldn't be feminist . This book is feminist because it represented woman more than men.
Tierra Spencer
ReplyDeleteI think that the book goes both ways. Yes Janie does choose her own man and gains power but at the end of the day, she went through men to get to that point. Now it's not a feminist novel because throughout the novel, Janie is getting told what to do most of the time. She didn't have a voice to certain things. At the end of the novel she was more powerful but for the majority of the novel, I disagree that it's a feminist novel. Also in that time period there were no females in charge of anything or taking their own things in to matter.
The Novel The Eyes we’re Watching God is an feminist story Janie throughout The since she was 16years old has been trying to find love and has struggle with serval different men. The time this book was taken place women were only look at from their body they way they looked, not their personality. Throughout the novel Janie dated a character named Logan , Joe and Tea Cake. Men in this spoke expect their “women” to be a housewife do what they say, cool when they say cook basically follow after their control. Each marriage that Janie has been in has failed Joe died and she cursed him out on his death bed. Tea Cake became sick so she had to kill him. These different examples show this novel is a feminist story.
ReplyDeleteThe book Thief Eyes Were Watching God was a feminist novel. Janie got to choose who she wanted to marry all three times. When her last two husbands put their hands on her they end up having a terrible death. This book is about Janie learning from the experiences things that happened during life. The counter arguments have points but some are not factband the othees do not dig deep enough for the true messages. Also the other females mentioned in the text helped Janie build her character.
ReplyDelete-KANIMBA
I like to say that “The eyes that are watching god” is not a feminist book. Because Janie is demonstrated as a hero in the story, but she was treated poorly by the male characters in the book and there were other characters in the story that played a significant role in the book. During the beginning of the book she was on a bad relationship with Logan was bad as he try to make Jaine that hard work is a man’s job and that she needs to stay home to clean the house. And another point is the other woman such as Nanny and Ms.Turner had influence Janie’s characters like when Nanny forced Jaine to marry Logan and it gave Janie some common sense about what she wants in a man. Also when Ms. Turner was trying to influence Janie to take part in her white half of person and skin this made Janie realized Ms. Turners intentions. This explains why the book is not feminist.
ReplyDeleteI think the novel in some parts is femanist and some parts not. Through the novel many men had power over Janie and Janie settled for it because "that's how it was supposed to be back during that time period" Janie however does leave Logan where she did have power but she was in two relationships after that where she was getting hit and told constantly what to do. Janie however does gain power but the author made men see Janie for who she was physically and not emotionally and mentally short of like how humans view animals . Janie wasn't saw for who she was just like everyday females were men only see females outside of who they are.
ReplyDeleteIn the novel Is there eyes watching god there was various forms of feminism that sometimes readers did not get. Furthermore with Janie throughout the novel we as readers watched her grow to the person she is in the end of the book. In contrast is there eyes watching god is feminist cause it repeatedly was shining on the women throughout the book which put a kind of tone through the book that it’s about women.
ReplyDeleteTheir Eyes Were Watching God was a feminist text. The story is mostly based around a young woman who is trying to find love. At this time period in history women didn’t have that much power or say over anything so to speak. In the novel Janie is compared to a mule which shows how much power she really has in the novel. The things that happen in the book show that Janie does have to strive harder than someone of another race. Another reason is how she keeps trying to get her relationships to work which they haven’t in the past due to various reasons
ReplyDeleteIn the novel "there eyes were watching God" the author displays a feminist novel because in the story it shows multiple ways that Janie's husband is an higher authority over her, not only does it show that but it also implies that his behavior towards Janie was normal because of how they treated women back then in the novel there is one scene where joe is ordering Janie to do something because she's suppose to be a stay at home wife and do all of the work but towards the end Janie finally stands up for herself!
ReplyDeleteIveyon Gardiner
ReplyDeleteThe novel “ Their eyes were watching god” is not a feminist novel in my opinion. I say this because although the main character Janie does become more powerful through out the novel she does not do so through herself. It is the men in the novel that teach Janie lessons and makes her the women she ends the novel being. Also other women in the novel have very little voice and I feel in order for the novel to be empowering to women we need more input from them. In the novel whenever women other than Janie spoke it was very little and it always seemed very negative. I believe the novel is more about how women can use their misfortune with men to their own advantage, which is not a bad message but not necessarily a feminist one.
In the novel " Their Eyes are Watching God " I believe it was a feminist text. Throughout the novel Janie stands up for herself. Janie has been trying to find love and she stands up for herself and leaves when she feels as though she isn't being treated right. Janie also does something different than society women are shown as week and to do what they are told but Janie stands up and leaves because she doesn't like being told what to do. Janie is compared to a mule well all women are in the novel because mules are told what to do but Janie puts her foot down and does something different. So overall this is a feminist text because Janie strived to get what she wants even of society doesn't approve of so.
ReplyDeleteIn the novel their eyes were watching god, it is not a feminist text. Its not a feminist text because it shows the persepective of janie always being overpowered. Thats why I believe throughout the novel we see how she becomes more powerful. I feel the article did this on purpose to show how a womens power should never be taking for granted. Thats why I believe their eyes were watchong god is not a feminist text.
ReplyDeleteLakeyta Bouknight
ReplyDeleteJanie is a black female feminist because she never lets anyone hold her back and she wants to explore the world like when she use to talk to Logan a boy who wanted her to be his wife but he wanted janie to help him with his farm and to clean up and that's not what Janie wanted to do so instead of settling for that she found someone else an old man name Joe starks that had kidney failure and was dien slowly from it but wanted Janie to be his little queen and was so insecure he didn't want her talking to anyone and would beat on her whenever he felt like someone was hitting on her and when he was dien Janie was telling him how he didn't love him this is showing how Janie is a feminist because she never lets one man hold her back from being her self and moving on to something better to explore the world.
Aziza Harmon 10/18/17
ReplyDeletePeriod: 2
Their Eyes Were Watching God is a feminist novel. Firstly Janie chooses the man she wants; Janie was never forced into a relationship she didn’t want to be in, she always had a choice. The men who try to control her meet bad ends. Joe tried to control Janie and even put his hands on her throughout their marriage; but Joe ended up getting sick and dying. Tea Cake tried to control Janie towards the end of their marriage; but the moment he tried to hurt her Janie ended it in one moment. Lastly Janie made her own decisions; Janie always chose what she wanted to do, she was never forced to do anything she didn’t want to thus making her a strong-willed woman. To conclude Their Eyes Were Watching God is a feminist novel focusing on a positive character which was a woman.
The novel "Their Eyes Are Watching God" is not feminist because Janie was treated poorly in book and although she was treated poorly she stayed strong and fought through it. I think all that is doing is showing woman how they can overcome anything but not just woman anyone. Just because Janie got what she wanted all the time doesnt mean the novel is feminist it just shows that Janie is independent and she does whatever she puts her mind to and strives for what she wants.
ReplyDeleteThe novel, "The eyes are watching god", is a feminist book because even though most men were in power, she did made her own decisions to live the way she wanted. Janie never forced herself into a relationship, it was all because of a choice that she made. A inner feelings of wanting to be free and exploring her curiosity. Logan tried to control her by making her do the farm work around the house. She wasn't interested and had no problem expressing that. The same thing with Joe and he physically and mentally abusive to her, she told him off while in his deathbed. Even though that may not have been the best option, she wanted to express the wrong ways he treated her so that he would learn from his mistakes. She always had a choice because of her being strong willed and not letting anything else get in the way of her decisions. This demonstrates why the novel, "Their eyes are watching god" is a feminist novel. Showing a independent woman who never lets what happens in her surroundings get her down and making her who she is today.
ReplyDeletein the novel, "the eyes are watching god" the novel i feel can be portrayed as a feminist empowerment story because at the beginning of the novel Janie didn't really have a voice and as the story goes on her voice gets stronger and develops toward the end.
ReplyDeleteIn the novel "their eyes were watching God" the author displays a feminist novel to me because in the story it shows multiple ways that Janie's husband has an higher authority over her, and also shows ways that her as an women is being put down. In the novel there is one scene where joe is ordering Janie to do something because she's suppose to be a stay at home wife and do all of the work but towards the end Janie finally stands up for herself! also throughout the book it shows a lot of sexual emotions that females go through that are more on the feminine side and not mascaline.
ReplyDeleteThis book is designed to give women the right to speak up for themselves and also describes how back in the day was when women really didnt have a voice
ReplyDeleteit is a feminist book because Janie is someone who takes control of her life. She leaves the men in her life so she doesn't get ran over by her men.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this is a feminist text. I think it’s feminist because everything is all about Janie. Yes Joe was wrong at times but everything is still about Janie. If the text wasn’t so much about Janie I wouldn’t think this way. Before we found out how cruel Joe was, the text was still about Janie. If the text focused on Joe just a little more, the text would probably end a different way that what it did.
ReplyDeleteSierra Bolen
ReplyDeleteI believe that this book is not a feminist book because women aren’t portrayed as strong and independent. I this book were to be feminist it would show Janie as a women he does things for herself: she cleans, she cooks, she works, and etc. she wouldn’t need a man because she is satisfied with doing things for herself. I can see why others may think this book is on the feminist side, they may think it’s feminst because Janie is seeming to break out of the norm of any other women and go for what she wants. Being as though, she seems to be running things, but in each relationship Janie didn’t have somewhat of a voice.
I believe that the film does not relate to the novel. Mrs. Tuner who played a important role in the novel was not in the film. In the novel she played an important role dealing with race and that was one of Hurston messages in the novel that was not seen in the film. I also noticed that Tea Cake did not hit Janie nor did he go spend her money just to do it he did it to try to get more money for the both of them. Also the film has no mules in it which played another important role in the novel which showed feminism.
ReplyDeleteShe is most influenced by the men in her life but she was also wasn't treated right either. i do not think when women read this book they going to be upset because the way men treated her. there be a couple of times that i was upset when i read how they treated her
ReplyDeleteI feel as though Their Eyes Were Watching God is not a feminist novel. Yes it does portray some feminist type of behaviors but the novel is not feminist. It shows a strong independent woman in different relationships looking for her one true love. Whenever she gets the chance she does speak her mind so I don’t think she is biting her tongue for any of her husbands. She knows right from wrong and does not need a man to tell her otherwise.
ReplyDelete