Theme of Janie's Hair in Their Eyes

Contents

• The Symbolism of Janie's Hair
• What Janie's Hair Means
• Conclusion
• References

The Symbolism of Janie's Hair

You know how some things in books are more than what they seem? Well, in Zora Neale Hurston's novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God," Janie's hair is one of those things. It really stands out as a big symbol. What’s so special about hair, right? But for Janie, her hair shows her journey to figuring out who she really is and getting free from what others think she should be.

When we first see Janie, her hair is tied up all neat by her grandmother, Nanny. Why? Because Nanny thinks that if Janie looks a certain way—like straightening her hair—people will accept her more. It's like she's trying to protect her in this world that values white beauty standards more than anything else. So yeah, Janie’s hair is kind of about innocence and going along with what everybody else wants at the start.

But as time goes on, things change. When she marries Joe Starks, hubby number two tells her to let her hair down. Literally! Her hair starts flowing naturally and it's like she gets this new confidence boost. It’s pretty much a turning point where she starts thinking, "Hey, maybe I don’t have to do what everyone says." That's when she begins finding herself and gaining freedom from society's chains.

Oh, and after Joe passes away? Janie does something pretty big. She chops off all that long straightened hair and lets those natural curls shine. It's almost like she's cutting away a false version of herself—what society wanted her to be—and embracing who she truly is. This natural style connects her back to nature and gives her strength from within.

What Janie's Hair Means

Okay, so what's the bigger picture here with all this hair symbolism? Well, it’s not just about Janie; it's about saying yes to who you are even when the world tries to tell you otherwise. For many African American women back then (and still today), it was tough to hold onto their cultural identity amidst lots of pressure.

By embracing her curls and ditching that straightened look, Janie’s making a statement against society's definition of beauty. She's basically shouting out for self-love and celebrating black identity loud and clear! Her story mirrors many African American women's struggles to reclaim their roots.

There's another layer too—it talks about growing as a person and finding yourself. Sure, it's specific to Janie's life but let's be real: it hits home for anyone reading the book regardless of their background. We all need reminders now and then to just be ourselves instead of fitting into some mold others made for us.

Conclusion

So wrapping things up: in "Their Eyes Were Watching God," Janie's hair is way more than just... well... hair! It tracks how she grows into herself while tossing aside societal expectations left and right. Through understanding this symbolism better—her journey becomes our journey too as we reflect on identity empowerment issues faced by African Americans throughout history—and also what personal growth means in today's world full stop! And isn't discovering ourselves what life’s kinda about?

References

• Hurston, Zora Neale. "Their Eyes Were Watching God." Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006.
• Morrison, Toni. "Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination." Harvard University Press, 1992.
• Patterson, Tiffany Ruby & Kelley, Robin D.G., "Unfinished Migrations: Reflections on the African Diaspora and the Making of the Modern World." African Studies Review 43(1): 11-45 (2000).
• Taylor-Guthrie Danille K., ed., Conversations with Toni Morrison University Press Mississippi (1994).