The Power of Tone in "Their Eyes Were Watching God"

In Zora Neale Hurston's amazing book "Their Eyes Were Watching God," she uses different tones to show how Janie Crawford finds herself and gets stronger. The story is full of bright pictures, local speech, and symbols that help us feel what Janie's going through as she deals with love, society, and her own growth. This essay is gonna break down how the tone helps tell the bigger story in the novel.

Setting the Scene

Right from the start, Hurston sets a warm and inviting tone. She picks her words carefully, using a kind of rhythm that pulls you into Janie's world. It's like you're right there with her. The narrator starts off with a sense of nostalgia: "Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. For some, they come in with the tide..." (Hurston 1). These poetic lines make you feel both hope and longing, setting up Janie's journey for love and finding herself.

Tones of Struggle

As we go deeper into Janie's life, the tone shifts to something more serious. Being an African American woman in the early 1900s isn't easy for her. When she's with Logan Killicks, things get heavy and sad: "She knew now that marriage did not make love..." (Hurston 25). Short sentences hit hard here, showing how rough things get for Janie as she loses some innocence and freedom.

Moments of Joy

But it's not all gloom! There's also a brighter tone when Janie finds happiness with Tea Cake. Here, Hurston switches it up to something lively and passionate. The way she describes their love makes you feel the joy bursting through: "He drifted off into sleep and Janie looked down on him..." (Hurston 112). This vibrant imagery shows how alive Janie feels now.

The Role of Dialect

Hurston's use of dialect really adds flavor to the novel. It makes everything feel more real and authentic. This isn't just about how people talk; it's about capturing their world. Take this chat between Janie and Phoeby: "Two things everybody's got tuh do fuh theyselves..." (Hurston 183). Using local speech gives these characters depth and keeps you reminded of their struggles.

Conclusion

All these different tones together paint a vivid picture of Janie's life—a woman fighting to be heard when everyone tries to silence her. Hurston does an incredible job using tone to bring this story alive, making us think about finding our own voices too.

References:

1. Hurston, Zora Neale. *Their Eyes Were Watching God*. New York: Harper Perennial Modern Classics.
2. Washington, Mary Helen (Ed.). *Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God: A Casebook*. Oxford University Press.
3. Boyd, Valerie. *Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston*. Scribner.
4. Gates Jr., Henry Louis & Appiah, Kwame Anthony (Eds.). *Zora Neale Hurston: Critical Perspectives Past and Present*. Amistad Press.
5. Jones, Sharon L., *Rereading the Harlem Renaissance: Race, Class, and Gender in Zora Neale Hurston's Fiction*. Greenwood Publishing Group.