Trudier Harris is a modern feminist writer and a part of the African-American community. She writes commentaries about the feminist messages, or lack thereof, in popular writings. In one such review, quoted above, she criticizes Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, a seminal work of 20th century literature. Harris especially disapproves of the relationships of Janie, the novel’s protagonist, with various men. Although Harris is correct in that Janie is often outwardly passive, Harris’ focus on Janie’s public submission leads her to overlook Janie’s growing internal strength.
That Janie chooses to remain in a submissive role in her relationship with Jody generally supports Harris’ assertions about her passivity. In order to stay obedient to her husband, Jody, Janie separates her internal feelings from her external submission. After years of marriage, Janie learns that staying quiet is more effective than fighting back to Jody’s hurtful words. The novel explains, Jody “wanted [Janie’s] submission and he’d keep on fighting until he felt he had it. So gradually, she pressed her teeth together and learned to hush” (71). Janie’s “submission” expresses the outward passivity described by Harris. Though at first Janie resisted Jody’s demands, she now has “learned to hush.” By staying silent, Janie surrenders control of her marriage to Jody. Although Janie realizes her marriage will never be a happy one, she does not fight to change the situation, but rather accepts it. The book states that Janie “was saving up feelings for some man she had never seen. She had an inside and an outside now and suddenly she knew how not to mix them” (72). Janie has projected an image to Jody, one of obedience and servitude. However, this is merely a protective shell, as Janie is “saving up feelings” for “some man” to save her on the inside. Jody fully suppresses Janie’s “inside,” and Janie lets it happen. Harris’ description of Janie’s overall subservience is directly supported by her unhappy relationship with Jody. Harris’ limited focus on Janie’s outward passivity leads her to overlook Janie’s hidden strength as she explores her sexuality. Throughout the novel, Janie utilizes flower and plant imagery to describe her journey of sexual discovery. Even from an early age, Janie uses this central metaphor openly to convey her newfound sexuality. The novel describes, “[Janie] was sixteen. She had glossy leaves and bursting buds and she wanted to struggle with life but it seemed to elude her” (11). Janie’s “glossy leaves and bursting buds” are her growing sexuality. This sexual maturity is at odds with Harris’ depiction of a weak-willed Janie. This Janie is vibrant, healthy, and personally empowered. She slowly discovers her body and her feelings, a “struggle with life.” Though further sexual exploration “elude[s] her,” she has the strong intention to seek it out herself. Janie’s understanding of and control in her sexual relationship with Jody further expresses her growing hidden power. After Jody physically abuses her, Janie realizes that “she had no more blossomy openings dusting pollen over her man, neither any glistening young fruit where the petals used to be” (72). The “pollen” which Jody lacks refers back to her earlier nature imagery. Janie takes control of her body, her “blossomy openings,” as she evaluates her lack of sexual attraction to him. Jody is no …show more content…
Though Janie may be at times passive, in private she is often strong, confident, and willful. Janie is in control over her body; she has strong opinions and tells them. Harris misses all of these more subtle declarations in favor of a seemingly straightforward argument. Janie is an incredibly complex and layered character, a fact which Harris does not fully appreciate. She is not on a “feminist quest,” she simply lives her life. Why is that not a feminist representation of womanhood? Janie falls in and out of love, yet maintains a healthy self-image. She may be subservient to men in some cases, but in others she is outspoken. To simplify her story into a lesson about empowerment is an injustice; Janie grows not just as a woman, but as a person. As one watches Janie’s growth, one can learn more about one’s own maturity and life journey. Though Harris is correct in Janie’s sometime docility with men, she fails to recognize Janie’s strong convictions about sexuality, freedom, and
That Janie chooses to remain in a submissive role in her relationship with Jody generally supports Harris’ assertions about her passivity. In order to stay obedient to her husband, Jody, Janie separates her internal feelings from her external submission. After years of marriage, Janie learns that staying quiet is more effective than fighting back to Jody’s hurtful words. The novel explains, Jody “wanted [Janie’s] submission and he’d keep on fighting until he felt he had it. So gradually, she pressed her teeth together and learned to hush” (71). Janie’s “submission” expresses the outward passivity described by Harris. Though at first Janie resisted Jody’s demands, she now has “learned to hush.” By staying silent, Janie surrenders control of her marriage to Jody. Although Janie realizes her marriage will never be a happy one, she does not fight to change the situation, but rather accepts it. The book states that Janie “was saving up feelings for some man she had never seen. She had an inside and an outside now and suddenly she knew how not to mix them” (72). Janie has projected an image to Jody, one of obedience and servitude. However, this is merely a protective shell, as Janie is “saving up feelings” for “some man” to save her on the inside. Jody fully suppresses Janie’s “inside,” and Janie lets it happen. Harris’ description of Janie’s overall subservience is directly supported by her unhappy relationship with Jody. Harris’ limited focus on Janie’s outward passivity leads her to overlook Janie’s hidden strength as she explores her sexuality. Throughout the novel, Janie utilizes flower and plant imagery to describe her journey of sexual discovery. Even from an early age, Janie uses this central metaphor openly to convey her newfound sexuality. The novel describes, “[Janie] was sixteen. She had glossy leaves and bursting buds and she wanted to struggle with life but it seemed to elude her” (11). Janie’s “glossy leaves and bursting buds” are her growing sexuality. This sexual maturity is at odds with Harris’ depiction of a weak-willed Janie. This Janie is vibrant, healthy, and personally empowered. She slowly discovers her body and her feelings, a “struggle with life.” Though further sexual exploration “elude[s] her,” she has the strong intention to seek it out herself. Janie’s understanding of and control in her sexual relationship with Jody further expresses her growing hidden power. After Jody physically abuses her, Janie realizes that “she had no more blossomy openings dusting pollen over her man, neither any glistening young fruit where the petals used to be” (72). The “pollen” which Jody lacks refers back to her earlier nature imagery. Janie takes control of her body, her “blossomy openings,” as she evaluates her lack of sexual attraction to him. Jody is no …show more content…
Though Janie may be at times passive, in private she is often strong, confident, and willful. Janie is in control over her body; she has strong opinions and tells them. Harris misses all of these more subtle declarations in favor of a seemingly straightforward argument. Janie is an incredibly complex and layered character, a fact which Harris does not fully appreciate. She is not on a “feminist quest,” she simply lives her life. Why is that not a feminist representation of womanhood? Janie falls in and out of love, yet maintains a healthy self-image. She may be subservient to men in some cases, but in others she is outspoken. To simplify her story into a lesson about empowerment is an injustice; Janie grows not just as a woman, but as a person. As one watches Janie’s growth, one can learn more about one’s own maturity and life journey. Though Harris is correct in Janie’s sometime docility with men, she fails to recognize Janie’s strong convictions about sexuality, freedom, and