After reading Hurston’s article, I can really see many of the elements of African American expression in her novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. Tea Cake seems to exemplify Hurston’s idea of the dramatic, fast-talking African American. Tea Cake is always coming up with some kind of antic to gain attention. He pretends to play the guitar or he dances around energetically to make Janie laugh. There was also one part in the novel that seemed to really represent these characteristics of African American expression. Beginning on page 67, Daisy walks into town when some of the men were hanging around. Two of the men started to have a competition over Daisy’s attention, making dramatic comments about how they would buy her a passenger train or a steamship just to be able to marry her. The men put on quite a spectacle in the middle of town trying to see who could talk the biggest game in the most dramatic fashion in hopes to win over Daisy. Since this occurred in the middle of town it also went along with Hurston’s idea that there is no privacy with African Americans. The men were certainly not shy about proclaiming how much they liked Daisy to the rest of the town.
Throughout the novel, I really started to dislike Joe. He was always so mean to Janie and he expected her to just take it. As a woman, I was just waiting for the day when Janie was going to give it right back to him. Janie has too much fight in her to just let Joe tell her what to do all the time. Janie wasn’t meant for a life of being a trophy wife. I actually wasn’t surprised when Joe became ill and finally died. He treated Janie so horribly that she was bound to stand up to him eventually. Unfortunately, Janie did it so harshly that it cut Joe deeper than she had wanted it to. I always thought that Janie was meant to find another guy besides Joe anyways.
I was really glad when Janie found Tea Cake. From the very beginning he seemed like a genuine guy. I was really nervous when Tea Cake left Janie by herself after they got married. I didn’t know whether to believe that Tea Cake was coming back or to believe that he was lying to Janie the whole time. I still wasn’t happy even when Tea Cake came back to Janie. He had been out gambling and having fun without her. That doesn’t seem like a thing that a husband should be doing. I think that Tea Cake’s gambling addiction could become a real problem. I can’t believe that Janie was so willing to allow Tea Cake to just take her money and spend it. Janie didn’t seem the least bit upset when Tea Cake came home after being gone all night and day with all of her money spent.
5 comments:
While reading the novel I too thought it was ironic that the two men were remarking and fighting for Daisy's attention. This brought me back to some African American Studies classes of Emitt Till, and how he made the comments to the white woman store owner. This passage however, did go with how in the african american society there is nothing that is a secret. This was a great observation!
I agree that after reading Hurston's article about African American expression you are able to notice it a lot throughout this particular novel. The example that you mentioned with Tea Cake is right on. Nothing in the African American culture seems to be kept a secert. Every one's business is put on display for all to see.
I though it was interesting how Hurston clearly uses men as the antagonists in her novel. I feel like all of hte character traits she assigns them have a negative conotation in the minds of many during the harlem rennisance.
I think joe was a good guy he jus got carried away and was pissed living with all that scum around him--he also had too much power casu he was the smartest guy and mayor in the town.. he did alot for janie though--sucks that he couldnt swallow his pride in the end and make himself look better and feel better. I dont know about teacake though just like u said his gambling problem could get worse--i could see all the assets going or someone he takes quick coming back and killing them o taking ther wealth--tecake is dangerous im interested in seeing what happens here
Hurston's usage of African American expressions are definitely apparent within her novel, Their Eyes were Watching God. It's interesting to see and point out the different expressions used throughout.
I'm not a huge fan of Joe going through the novel. I feel alot of the time, he does what he does because she's his trophey wife but I don't think he does it to be mean all the time. I feel though that she is way too independent to be someone's trophey wife and protected all the time. I was glad that Janie finally stood up to Joe even though it affected him more than she would have liked to.
I agree that maybe Tea Cake's gambling addiction could create a potential problem! Hopefully, she can finally find someone though that she can stand to be around and treats her the way she has been expecting.
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