Outline for Their Eyes were watching god

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Outline for Their Eyes Were Watching God
Introduction
The literary piece, “Their Eyes Were Watching God” authored by Zora Neale Hurston, depicts the experience of an African American woman during a period where both civil rights and gender equality were still myths in America. The literary piece can be viewed as evidence on the actual experience of the female gender in a sexist society where the woman lacks voice and instead abide by the man’s rules and demands. Several themes emanate from the life of the protagonist, Janie Crawford. They include; gender responsibilities, sexuality, romance, racial associations and community activities.
Thesis statement: Zora Neale Hurston in “Their Eyes Were Watching God”, illustrates the struggles of a woman from being oppressed to a moment of freedom regarding her voice in her community, finding her horizons and her determination to deviate from her traditional obligations.
Body
Supporting Argument 1
Janie’s shift from an oppressed voice to the ability to express herself and her literal voice illustrates female empowerment.
Her relationship with Jody and Logan is filled with oppression because of male chauvinism which limits her from expressing herself. The narrator states, “Janie loved the conversation and sometimes she thought up good stories on the mule, but Joe had forbidden her to indulge. He didn’t want her talking after such trashy people,” (Hurston 53).
However, her relationship with Tea Cake empowers her to express herself despite her position as a woman.

But he done showed me where it’s de thought dat makes de difference in ages. If people thinks de same they can make it all right. So in the beginnin’ new thoughts had tuh be thought and new words said. After Ah git used tuh dat, we gits ‘long jus’ fine. He done taught me de maiden language all over” (Hurston 115).
Supporting argument 2
Throughout the novel, Janie is determined to identify her horizons for her to able to live a happy life; a life not controlled by men or the societal obligations concerning her gender.
Janie blames her nanny for limiting her from pursuing her horizons and instead confines her in an unhappy and oppressive relationship with Jody. She believes that her life would have been better if she ignored nanny’s sentiments. “Here Nanny had taken the biggest thing God ever made, the horizon…and pinched it in to such a little bit of a thing that she could tie it about her grandmother’s neck tight enough to choke her,” (Hurston 130).
Nonetheless, Janie manages to identify her horizons with the view that the horizons have enabled her to gain her identity. She states, “Here was peace. She pulled in her horizon like a great fish-net. Pulled it from around the waist of the world and draped it over her shoulder. So much of life in its meshes! She called in her soul to come and see,” (Hurston 243).
Supporting argument 3
Janie’s falling in love with a person that values her after a series of bad relationships, provides her with the zeal to deviate from her traditional obligations.
Janie’s first rebellion against traditions is when she abandons her first relationships with Logan and Jody respectively. She does not show remorse after Jody’s death as illustrated in her conversation with Pheoby;
“Tain’t dat Ah worries over Joe’s death, Pheoby. Ah jus’ loves dis freedom.”
“Sh-sh-sh! Don’t let nobody jear you say dat, Janie. Folks will say you ain’t sorry he’s gone,” (Hurston 134).
After the return to her home, after Tea Cake’s burial, Janie does not conform to the expectations of the traditional women and cares less about the expectations. As per the critiques from other women, “What she doin coming back here in dem overhalls? Can’t she find no dress to put on? …why she don’t stay in her class?”, (Hurston 33).
Conclusion
Restate Thesis: Zora Neale Hurston in “Their Eyes Were Watching God”, illustrates the struggles of a woman from being oppressed to a moment of freedom regarding her voice in her community, finding her horizons and her determination to deviate from her traditional obligations.
Summary of key points.
Janie’s shift from an oppressed voice to the ability to express herself and her literal voice illustrates female empowerment.
Throughout the novel, Janie is determined to identify her horizons for her to able to live a happy life; a life not controlled by men or the societal obligations concerning her gender.
Janie’s switch from bad relationships to a relationship with the right man provides her with the confidence to go against her traditional role as a woman from the south.
Reference
Hurston, Zora. Their Eyes Were Watching God. Harper Collins Publishers, Inc, 1937. Print.