Lena Horne Tribute Site. 2007. 28 Feb. 2009
<http://www.lena-horne.com/lena_horne_tribute_site.htm>.
Lena Horne . 2009. The New York Times Company. 28 Feb.2009
<http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/09/>.
Lena Horne . 2008. Class Act. 28 Feb.2009
<http://www.classicmoviemusicals.com/horne.htm>.
Lena Horne: About The Performer . 2009. Educational Broadcasting Corporation. 28 Feb.2009
<http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/lena-horne/about-the-performer/487/>.
Ms. Brown this website won't let me format it the right way in MLA format
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Significant Quote
Temmi Adeyeni
AP English 3
Per.11, M.Brown
Quote: “De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so far as can see” (Hurston, 14)
In Zora Neale Hurston’s epic novel “Their Eyes were Watching God”, Hurston introduces a plethora of themes which include: having control, internal racism, self-realization. One of the most prominent themes, however, is the attitude exerted on African-American women during Reconstruction (the time period after the Civil War). Through Nanny’s dialogue, one can clearly see that the position of an African-American women was at the very “bottom of the barrel”. She was considered a man’s property and commodity. Therefore, weak, submissive, and unintelligent. Zora Neale Hurston uses Janie’s relationships as a medium of revealing this piece of information.
“De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so far as can see” (Hurston, 14). In this quote, Nanny compares the situation of African-American women to that of a mule’s. According to Dictionary.com, a mule is valued as a work animal or a person paid to carry or transport contraband. This can be seen through Janie’s interaction with men she had relationships with. For example: Janie’s relationship with Jody. Jody kept wanting to turn Janie onto a “Mayor’s wife”. Someone who was beyond everyone else. Somewhat like an invincible being. “You’se Mrs. Mayor Starks, Janie. I god Ah can’t see what uh woman uh yo stability would want tuh be treasuring all dat gum grease from folks dat don’t even own de house dey sleep in” (Hurston,54). Jody made it appear like he wanted Janie to change, because it would help her, When in reality, he wanted Janie to change for the sake of himself. Jody wanted Janie to change into someone that was regal, because he wanted the townspeople to see him as someone perfect. Therefore using Janie, as if she were a mule, to fulfill his own needs. In his own eyes, he saw himself as God and he wanted everyone else to see him as that. He had changed himself as much as he could and the only thing that needed to be changed was Janie.
Another way that Janie had been used as a mule was seen in her relationship with Logan Killicks. “looka heah,lil bit…cut up dese seed taters fuh me…Ah needs two mules dis yeah…Taters is going to be taters in de fall” (Hurston,27). As can be seen here, Logan is treating Janie like she was one of his mules. Logan wants Janie to do exactly what his mules would have done. Therefore, using Janie. Though he was not using Janie to boost up his ego, he was using her to boost up his financial stability. The fact that he treated her so well in the first few months of their marriage means that he just wanted her to feel committed to the relationship, therefore making her feel obligated to help him as much as he did her.
In Conclusion, Zora Neale Hurston clearly explains to readers the role of women in the Reconstruction. The women were being used like they were mules and like they were there to boost a man’s ego and wealth. They were free to express their opinions to some extent, just as long as they did not put down a man’s ego.
AP English 3
Per.11, M.Brown
Quote: “De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so far as can see” (Hurston, 14)
In Zora Neale Hurston’s epic novel “Their Eyes were Watching God”, Hurston introduces a plethora of themes which include: having control, internal racism, self-realization. One of the most prominent themes, however, is the attitude exerted on African-American women during Reconstruction (the time period after the Civil War). Through Nanny’s dialogue, one can clearly see that the position of an African-American women was at the very “bottom of the barrel”. She was considered a man’s property and commodity. Therefore, weak, submissive, and unintelligent. Zora Neale Hurston uses Janie’s relationships as a medium of revealing this piece of information.
“De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so far as can see” (Hurston, 14). In this quote, Nanny compares the situation of African-American women to that of a mule’s. According to Dictionary.com, a mule is valued as a work animal or a person paid to carry or transport contraband. This can be seen through Janie’s interaction with men she had relationships with. For example: Janie’s relationship with Jody. Jody kept wanting to turn Janie onto a “Mayor’s wife”. Someone who was beyond everyone else. Somewhat like an invincible being. “You’se Mrs. Mayor Starks, Janie. I god Ah can’t see what uh woman uh yo stability would want tuh be treasuring all dat gum grease from folks dat don’t even own de house dey sleep in” (Hurston,54). Jody made it appear like he wanted Janie to change, because it would help her, When in reality, he wanted Janie to change for the sake of himself. Jody wanted Janie to change into someone that was regal, because he wanted the townspeople to see him as someone perfect. Therefore using Janie, as if she were a mule, to fulfill his own needs. In his own eyes, he saw himself as God and he wanted everyone else to see him as that. He had changed himself as much as he could and the only thing that needed to be changed was Janie.
Another way that Janie had been used as a mule was seen in her relationship with Logan Killicks. “looka heah,lil bit…cut up dese seed taters fuh me…Ah needs two mules dis yeah…Taters is going to be taters in de fall” (Hurston,27). As can be seen here, Logan is treating Janie like she was one of his mules. Logan wants Janie to do exactly what his mules would have done. Therefore, using Janie. Though he was not using Janie to boost up his ego, he was using her to boost up his financial stability. The fact that he treated her so well in the first few months of their marriage means that he just wanted her to feel committed to the relationship, therefore making her feel obligated to help him as much as he did her.
In Conclusion, Zora Neale Hurston clearly explains to readers the role of women in the Reconstruction. The women were being used like they were mules and like they were there to boost a man’s ego and wealth. They were free to express their opinions to some extent, just as long as they did not put down a man’s ego.
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