Their Eyes Were Watching God (Ch 3-5): Who is Joe?

In chapter 5 of Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston divulges the nature of African Americans during the time of the novel. Interestingly enough, this temperament is later seen through the residents views of Joe in Eastonville. Hurston reveals that "colored folks" are "too envious of one 'nother," and therefore it is not in fact whites who keep blacks down, but they keep their "own selves down" (Hurston pg 39). Instead of working together, Coker discloses that envy disallows a black community from developing. Interestingly enough, the blacks in Hurston's novel don't feel this bitterness towards whites but towards people of their own race; however, one questions whether African Americans behave in continuously envious manner as a result of not possessing the same rights as whites during the time. Nonetheless, as Joe rises to power as mayor in Eastonville, Hurston displays the black temperament he discusses earlier when he conveys the town residents' sentiments towards Joe's authority. Despite the many negative thoughts many men have towards Joe, there was something about him that "cowed the town" (Hurston pg 47). He "weakened" people through his mannerisms and presence, and so the town inevitably bows down to him because no one has the courage to challenge his power ( Hurston pg 47). Because Hurston earlier reveals that blacks always feel great envy of each other, one questions the legitimacy of the town residents' complaints. Are their feelings justified and real, or are they simply exaggerating as a result of their nature?

Their Eyes Were Watching God (Ch 1+2): Insight to Janie

In the first chapters of Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, one quickly learns about the main character, Janie. Hurston first introduces Janie as she returns home form Tea Cake and is criticized by the local, envious women. When Pheoby visits Janie, Janie begins to recount her childhood and story. At sixteen, Janie retains dreams of becoming "a pear tree," or, in fact, "any tree in bloom" (Hurston pg 11). She mentions earlier that she seeks "confirmation" but is incapable of discovering an answer to her restlessness. She comes across flies who were "marrying and giving in marriage" (Hurston pg 11). Thus, Janie quickly aspires to become "any tree in bloom" so that she will encounter the flies who marry and give in marriage. She wishes to meet the "kissing bees" who will mark the "beginning of the world" (Hurston pg 11). Janie wishes to discover these singings bees so that her life can "begin," but she believes only by maturing and "blooming" into a woman will she be able to meet the bees, flies, and therefore marriage. Thus, Hurston gives insight to Janie's character because one recognizes a feeling of loneliness which produces Janie's desire to be loved. She reveals that she does not believe her life has begun and so she is waiting restlessly. Janie does not long to be tree but specifically a tree "in bloom." Hurston divulges that Janie is waiting to not only "bloom" into womanhood, but also to blossom into her life. One questions whether Janie's aspirations will eventually lead her to break away from the traditional lifestyle that slavery sets during the time period Hurston creates.

A Streetcar Named Desire Scene 10: Stanley's Animalism

In Scene 10 of A Streetcar Named Desire, Williams continues to portray Stanley in an animalistic manner. While Stella is at the hospital getting ready to give birth, Stanley and Blanche are left alone at the apartment. Once Stanley starts staring at her and as "his mouth slowly [curves] into a grin," Blanche is overcome with a feeling of fear (Scene 10 160). Stanley becomes creepy and alarming once Williams depicts him to be grinning at Blanche. By describing his smile to be a "grin," Williams displays that Stanley is not withholding himself anymore, and he now allows him to indulge in the sight of Blanche. Early on, Williams publicized that the "center" of Stanley's life "has been pleasure with women" (Scene 1 25). Since then, one sees through Stanley's deception, and now, Williams divulges that Blanche sees through Stanley's mask as well. Stanley "springs toward her, overturning the table" to grab Blanche (Scene 10 162). The use of spring to describe Stanley's motion is very inhumane and once again contributes to his animalistic behavior. In addition, by "overturning the table," Stanley's actions are barbaric. Thus, by grinning, and therefore no longer restraining his desires, Williams divulges that Stanley suppresses a barbaric behavior. The person who eventually rapes Blanche is in actuality Stanley's "real" self.

A Streetcar Named Desire Scene 8: Blanche's Presence

In Scene 8, Williams divulges that Blanche's presence has negatively affected Stanley and Stella's marriage.  It is both Blanche's character as well as her shadiness that irks Stanley and ultimately makes him appear to be a cruel person in Stella's perspective. After Stanley gives Blanche her birthday present, a bus ticket home, Stella is once again caught in the middle of one of their arguments. Stella cannot help but protect her sister, but she also tries to understand and believe her husband. When she protects Blanche she remarks, "You didn't know Blanche as a girl...But people like you abused her, and forced her to change" (Scene 8 136). Stella reveals that she sympathizes with Blanche, while at the same time she publicizes her own opinion of "people like" her husband. One questions how Stella will be able to maintain the same loving perspective of Stanley now that she associates his behavior to be both abusive and cruel. Stanley discloses to Stella that he dislikes Blanche staying with them because he feels they are not happy together anymore. He mentions, "...wasn't we happy together, wasn't it all okay till she showed here?" (Scene 8 137). However, although Blanche has caused disorder in their household, is Stanley able to blame Blanche for his change in behavior? One questions whether Stella is convinced by Stanley's excuse, or if she herself is questioning whether Blanche has revealed a hidden side of Stanley.