This article examines the themes of voice and freedom in Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God. The protagonist, Janie Crawford, embarks on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, navigating gender roles, societal expectations, and personal relationships. The novel highlights the significance of self-expression and autonomy in the face of oppression. By analyzing Janie’s transformation, this study explores the broader implications of female agency and identity within African American literature and feminist discourse.
Finding Voice and Freedom in Their Eyes Were Watching God
DOI:
Keywords:
Voice
freedom
feminism
gender roles
Abstract
References
Gates, H. L. (1988). The Signifying Monkey: A Theory of African American Literary Criticism. Oxford University Press.
Walker, A. (1975). In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens: Womanist Prose. Harcourt.
Hurston, Z. N. (1937). Their Eyes Were Watching God. Harper Perennial.
hooks, b. (1981). Ain’t I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism. South End Press.
Washington, M. H. (1987). Invented Lives: Narratives of Black Women 1860-1960. University Press of Mississippi.
Davis, A. (1983). Women, Race, & Class. Vintage.
Bloom, H. (2009). Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God. Chelsea House.
Christian, B. (1980). *Black Women Novelists