Their Eyes Were Watching God Research Paper

Kendall Freeworth Mr. Hehr American Literature 25 April 2024 Slavery Caused by Others and Ideas

Enslavement was considered unconstitutional in 1865, but the characters still experience different types of slavery for almost a century later. Zora Neale Hurston demonstrates how people are overtaken by individuals or ideas and how people were enslaved by others or ideas in the book, Their Eyes Were Watching God. Janie was a victim of enslavement by her first husband, Logan. Joe enslaved others by silencing them due to his power. Nanny used her advice to enslave Janie.

Janie was easily influenced and manipulated by her husband, Logan, who took advantage of her. Her first husband, Logan, was an arranged marriage because Nanny wanted to see her with someone who …show more content…
He was demanding Janie to help work in the fields with him, but Janie refused because she wanted to work in the kitchen. Logan said that his deceased wife would help him and tried to manipulate Janie to do the same by comparing the two girls (Hurston, 23). “‘Tain’t too many men would trust yuh, knowin’ yo’ folks lal dey do” (Hurston, 29). After Janie threatened to run away, Logan made Janie feel stuck in the relationship because it was Nanny’s wish for them to be a couple and said if she ran away no one would want her. Her husband, Joe, overthrew others and Janie by silencing them due to his power and status. Joe got his status because he came into town and became mayor to give the town structure (Hurston, 38). Joe used his power over the people to scare them into obeying the rules. Joe displayed this abuse of power by exiling Jim Weston from Eatonville because he stole pigs’ feet (Hurston, 66). The town was shocked by the decision, but feared him and didn’t stand up against Joe. Janie was silenced by Joe by the rules he made for her as the mayor’s wife. After his speech about becoming mayor, the citizens wanted Janie to give a speech,

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