TEWWG Reflection Chapters 1-5

           Boy do I love what the story is turning into! I’m surprised how much more I enjoy the book when rereading it 6 months later. I understand the frustrating feeling many people have when reading over the dialogue but as I grow used to saying the words faster to make sense of them, I gain a new appreciation of Hurston’s unique style of colloquial language. I loved how the story started with the end up front because not many stories I have read begin with that. I enjoy it because I can piece together the story and how the ending works out because of all the events Janie is about to tell us. Previously, I didn’t understand how important Janie’s moment under the tree and talking with her Nanny about love was to the overall story. This time, I really enjoyed Hurston’s elaborate imagery as the bee pollinates the tree. It really shows how love is reciprocal which I think is something that will continue throughout the story. I enjoy the split narration of the story where we get Janie’s perspective as well as an omniscient point of view to describe everything! We see love and fulfillment take a very important theme already because Janie runs off with Logan and Jody in search of a lasting love. Sadly, she finds out love doesn’t come from marriage as well as love doesn’t equal the same to everyone. For example, as Jody grows Eatonville, Jody is so happy he can be powerful and give Janie all her desires, however Janie speaks a different love language and wants his attention, not money. But he declines that idea, especially when telling Janie to pin her hair up, a sign of her freedom to be herself. While Janie was chasing her horizon, it is evident this isn’t even close to her peaceful place so we read on to find out what’s next for Janie. I hope she finds her voice again and gains back control of her own life.

Eyes are Watching God Chunk 1

While reading chapter 1-5 i found it very interesting of how Hurston first goes on to talk about how Janine is judged by the sitters soon as she got back to her hometown. However, at first I thought the book was going to be about how the “sitters” judge her. Which honestly I when I thought this I figured this was going to be a book I would hate. However,  toward the middle of Chapter 2 I found out this isn't the cause. She sits down with her old friend Phoebe and starts telling the story of her life since she left. Which so far is really interesting to me because I really like hearing the story of other people. I’m now looking forward to reading this book. 

TEWWG 1-5 When I first started reading the book many times I would get confused when the characters were having a conversation. This is mainly because of the dialect that the characters use. It wasn't hard to read it but when I got to a word that I didn't really understand I would stumble through the text and it made it hard for me to understand what the characters were saying. However, after getting used to the dialect it was really easy to read. I realized that after a little while I started reading without even realizing the difference in the language. I liked that Hurston used this dialect because it made the whole setting of the story come alive in my head. I would picture all these people talking to each other just in the same way that it was in the book. So even though it was a bit confusing to me at first, now I see how it's become natural for me to read the text.

TEWWG Reaction

I really like this book. When I read it, everything flows in a constant image and narrative inside my head, and I am submerged in the book. I don’t even notice I’m reading. It’s been a long time since that’s happened to me with a book I have to admit. This is because I absolutely love her writing. One thing that I value maybe more than anything else about a writing is the figurative language. There are some writers where the imagery and metaphors they use feel forced. Then there is Zora Neal Hurston, who writes every single metaphor in the most perfect and creative way that I scream internally because she hits whatever she is describing so on the mark. That has been the one thing I’ve enjoyed the most so far with this book, and so I thought I’d include a couple of my favorite examples: “Oh to be a pear tree - any tree in bloom! She was sixteen. She had glossy leaves and bursting buds and she wanted to struggle with life but it seemed to elude her. Where were the singing need for her?” “She knew God tore down the old world every evening and built a new one by sun-up. It was wonder to see it take form with the sun and emerge from the gray dust of it’s making.” Also an example would be that whole scene with the birds eating the carcass of the mule. Which, by the way, I’m surprised we haven��t talked about this scene at all cause it seems almost out of place in this book. It’s this random fantasy-esque scene within a realist fiction novel, which I love, but I’m also wondering why it was placed there.

In the first section of Their Eyes Were Watching God I noticed how a lot of motifs are tossed around especially in the first chapter. For example the ship metaphor relating to time is the first line which sets up the entire novel. Then there are the nature and mule motifs. Later these ideas start to fade out, when the story is being told because the author wanted to develop the characters. Then we start to see new ideas and possibly themes emerge. Power seems to play a key part of the story, the way Jody has power over the people in the town and most of all power over his wife. Also the power theme applies to the gender roles. This was a major point we discussed in our group discussion. A major question I brought up was is this a feminist book? This got the discussion going. 

Hurston 1-6

Wow! I'm surprised by I actually genuinely enjoy this novel. Hurston's description and use of imagery creates almost a movie inside of my head as I read. The quirkiness of the dialogue does nothing less than add to the movie in my head! In addition to the style of this book, the storyline and ideas produced are intriguing and thought provoking. Through these first few chapter I have gained an understanding of Janie and gradually like Janie's character more and more. Personally, I think there has been hints of foreshadowing in these chapters, based on those foreshadows I hope Janie "blossoms" into her true self as the story continues.

Hurston 5

I love reading this book.  Every time i get to dialogue i immediately get this weird voice in my head that tries to talk in a deep southern accent and it is so fun.   Regarding the characters I am not gonna lie, i kinda had mixed feelings about Janie.  Honestly i think she is a little selfish.  I was given that impression when she was with her first husband how she was so stubborn about not helping him.  In reality he did want what was best for her but she could not see it because she had these idealistic images about romance and love in her head.  I took Janie for a fool.  However as I am reading on my feelings for her change.  After seeing the way she gets treated she has every right to be a dreamer because frankly her life sucks.    Overall i like this book

ch 1-5 evaluation

During the first 5 chapters I have noticed how hard it is to understand what each character is trying to say. You pretty much have to read everything at once or you lose where you are and have to restart. I'm also kind of confused about things as we are discussing how the book is about female empowerment but so far in the book every time Janie goes against her husband she gets quiet and doesn't fight back. The book is good though for the fact that you can see each character so clearly with the way that Zora uses the dialect so that you are forcing yourself to read the book like they would have talked.

reflection of chapters 1-5

At first I really didn't like the book because it was really hard for me to follow along with the dialogue without reading it allowed, so I kind of just skimmed it over. It was confusing and I was really lost. After discussing the first few chapters in our little groups, we concluded a lot of things, and I saw the potential for the book. For the next few chapters, I forced myself to take the extra time to read each sentence carefully so that I understood the dialogue, and I found that it wasnt actually THAT bad. I've been able to make some decent annotations on genius so I'm excited to see what happens to Janie next. When we harcknesses together as a class we came up with some really good stuff, and that makes me enjoy the book even more. I always enjoy books more after we discuss them in class because O tend to understand them better, only after we talk about them as a class.

Reflection on Chapters 1-5

One of the things I want to focus on when it comes to characterization is the relationship between Janie and Nanny. We discussed it a little bit in our harkness, but we kind of moved on before I had the chance to take it in the direction I wanted to. When we were in our individual groups, I went to characters/characterization first, and we discussed the relationship more in depth. During our discussion, an interesting point was brought up that I think a lot of people can relate to. 

Sometimes, when adult, especially parental figures, want you to do things a certain way, whether their motives are good or not, they'll give subtle instructions in the form of advice. "You should do it this way." "I suggest..." "I know...but maybe..." Nanny seems to employ this method a bit when she tries to make decisions for Janie. It seems like she's just giving Janie advice so that she won't end up making the same mistakes as the generations before her.

But, at what point does advice begin to feel like orders?

Is Nanny, by trying to save Janie, taking away Janie's free will?

Reflection Chapters 1-5

In our class discussion, Nanny's decision to marry off Janie was one of the primary focuses. Some seemed to think that in the heat of the moment, Nanny punished Janie by forcing her to marry Logan. I think that even though the writing makes it appear as though it is a punishment, it is obvious that Nanny only wants what is best for Janie. She legitimately thinks that doing this protects Janie from making mistakes with foolish young men. What she doesn't realize is that forcing her to marry a man she doesn't love creates long term problems for Janie. Because we know that in the end she has at least three failing relationships, I have a theory that although unintentional, Nanny's decision causes Janie to struggle to truly love someone else throughout the rest of the novel.

Reflection on Chapters 1-6

After just reading chapter one, I didn't like the book at all. I hated the slang and found it tedious to read, I couldn't follow who the different characters were, and I couldn't understand the plot, exposition, and narration. However, after reading through chapter six and having the harkness discussion, I am starting to enjoy the book a lot more. When I read a book for school, I feel like I read differently than if I was reading a book for pleasure. For school, I focus more on literary techniques, themes, etc, sometimes forgetting to enjoy the book. This book is different. I feel like I'm reading for pleasure while also recognizing literary devices at the same time. I love the themes of independence/relationships and power as a means to fulfillment and how they're being developed throughout all of the characters and the plot. I'm excited to read more and continue with the discussions in class.

Whenever I read a book or speak French, I slowly adapt to the language that is being spoken. So when I read The Scarlet Letter, after a while, I could understand what was being said. I started to read faster and then I even picked up a few words. When I speak French, after having a quick ten minute conversation, I start to have a better accent and I speak faster. It’s almost embarrassing because my accent will change if I go to the south. Anyways, what I mean to say is that in Their Eyes Were Watching God, I’m starting to understand it. In chapters 1-5, it was difficult, but as I read on, it gets easier.

I’m also having a hard time liking Janie as a character. When she left Logan Killicks, I was so excited. I was so glad she finally stood up for herself, but then she goes and marries Starks. I had a feeling he was too good to be true. I just wonder what happens to him that she later ends up with Tea Cake.

Their Eyes Were Watching God Ch.1-5

To be honest, I didn't think that reading the dialogue was that hard. It sort of reminded me of when I was a kid and I had to sound out the words as I learned how to read. The same thing applied here; The words are spelt different but they sound the same and most of the slang I just looked up. The dialogue makes the book unique. I have never read a book like it before, and it draws me in. It makes the nook a lot more interesting and causes me to read diligently and not skim so I can understand what is happening in the book. It takes a bit longer to read, but I appreciate the way it was written. Hurston uses the dialogue to show the different culture to us. I can't imagine that it was easy for Hurston to write the dialogue this way. The rest of the book is clean and grammatically correct. Hurston is educated so it probably took her some time to write the dialogue the way it is.

Chp 1-5

Reading the first chapter I wasn't sure if I would like this book. Now at chapter 10 I am actually really enjoying it. Just like everyone else the dialogue was a bit difficult but looking past that and understanding the themes and the techniques I have come to the terms that this book isn't that bad. I find the two narratives interesting and new but I'm not that big of a fan of it. I prefer just reading it from Janies point of view. There is so much that she can take from her experiences and I prefer to read that then anything.

Eyes Were Watching God 1-5

After reading through chapters 1-5 of Their Eyes Were Watching God, the book has sparked my interest in Hurston's motifs. The repetitive ideas she uses throughout the novel reinforce important ideas or themes about the nature of people in general, and I really feel like I'm coming to better understanding of how and why I make my own decisions from this book. In addition, this book is a relatively easy read after reading Paradise Lost for my project, but I found that it took me longer than I expected to get through chapters 1-5, most likely because I had to adjust to the vast amounts of dialogue and the unconventional diction Hurston utilizes. Another thing that pleases me is that if this book really is going to focus on feminism, a popular topic in our class this year, I at least find it more interesting than one of our previous predominantly feminism books The Handmaid's Tale. I would read this book over that one any day.