Sore Must Be The Storm That Could Abash the Little Bird': Janie’s Perseverance in Their Eyes Were Watching God Anonymous College

The novel Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston is known for being a prominent piece of feminist literature. It is full of recurring symbols and metaphors, which Hurston uses as an outlet to express her most important messages. She begins the book by setting the stage with a specific distinction between men and women; one that is essentially shattered as the book progresses, through Hurston’s utilization of two essential symbols: a pear tree and a mule. Hurston has many messages that she conveys in her book through these symbols, but her most imperative message is that women are just as independent, powerful, and entitled as men. Therefore, the opening statement that Hurston makes about the difference between men and women is presented only to be proven wrong, and Hurston succeeds in sending the message that women and men should be considered equals.

The distinction between men and women that Hurston begins the novel with simply states, “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.” (Hurston, 1) Here,...