How Marxism Relates to Their Eyes Were Watching God
Zora Neale Hurston depicts Marxist theory in her book Their Eyes Were Watching God, supporting it with numerous examples of the class struggle. The Bourgeoisie of the book are depicted as the white man and Janie's first two husbands. On the other hand, the Proletariats are depicted as the average colored persons of the time period. Throughout the book, most of the Bourgeoisie are shown exploiting the Proletariats economically with power given to them by the very same Proletariats.
P19-"Ah raked and scraped and bought dis lil piece uh land so you wouldn’t have to stay in de white folks’ yard and tuck yo’ head befo’ other chillun at school."
Here, Janie’s grandmother asserts herself as the “have-not” group of the Marxist lens. Her lack of wealth and property leads her to push Janie into marriage with Logan, in hopes of at least having Janie attain the “haves” she was unable to attain as an individual.
Here, Janie’s grandmother asserts herself as the “have-not” group of the Marxist lens. Her lack of wealth and property leads her to push Janie into marriage with Logan, in hopes of at least having Janie attain the “haves” she was unable to attain as an individual.
P23-"If you don’t want him, you sho oughta...Got a house bought and paid for and sixty acres uh land right on de big road…"
This quote sets Logan as the first example of a “have”. He becomes the envy of the grandmother, prompting her to push towards Janie’s marriage. The wealth Logan displayed is seen as the power to be able to support and protect Janie in the eyes of the grandmother.
This quote sets Logan as the first example of a “have”. He becomes the envy of the grandmother, prompting her to push towards Janie’s marriage. The wealth Logan displayed is seen as the power to be able to support and protect Janie in the eyes of the grandmother.
P38-"You oughta know you can’t take no ‘oman lak dat from no man lak him. A man dat ups and buys two hundred acres uh land at one whack and pays cash for it."
Here, the novel sets Joe Stark’s position as one who clearly fits in the Borugeoisie category. His affluence parallels the power Stark has over everyone else in the community, putting him at the highest class within the community. Due to his gained status he is able to secure the position of mayor, even further widening the gap between him and the Proletariats.
Here, the novel sets Joe Stark’s position as one who clearly fits in the Borugeoisie category. His affluence parallels the power Stark has over everyone else in the community, putting him at the highest class within the community. Due to his gained status he is able to secure the position of mayor, even further widening the gap between him and the Proletariats.
P38-"He’s gointuh put up uh store and git uh post office from de Goven’ment."
P39-"...money Jody had spent for the land come back to him so fast. Ten new families bought lots and moved to town in six weeks..Before the store had a complete roof, Jody had canned goods piled on the floor and was selling so much he didn’t have time to go off on his talking tours."
These quotes shows the source of Joe's continued profits, the townspeople. He set up a shop in the middle of town, with practically a monopoly on every product, and makes money off the customers. The second quote is an example of a "have" exploiting the "have-nots."
P39-"...money Jody had spent for the land come back to him so fast. Ten new families bought lots and moved to town in six weeks..Before the store had a complete roof, Jody had canned goods piled on the floor and was selling so much he didn’t have time to go off on his talking tours."
These quotes shows the source of Joe's continued profits, the townspeople. He set up a shop in the middle of town, with practically a monopoly on every product, and makes money off the customers. The second quote is an example of a "have" exploiting the "have-nots."
P39-"Us colored folks is too envious of one ‘nother. Dat’s how come us don’t git no further and us do...Us keeps our own selves down."
The "have-nots" or the colored residents, in their envy of "haves", seek to prohibit other "have-nots" from attaining the "have" status before they themselves achieve it. This demonstrates a struggle in between "have-nots" instead of "have" vs "have-nots."
The "have-nots" or the colored residents, in their envy of "haves", seek to prohibit other "have-nots" from attaining the "have" status before they themselves achieve it. This demonstrates a struggle in between "have-nots" instead of "have" vs "have-nots."
P48-"But how could they know up-to-date folks was spitting in flowery little things like that? It sort of made the rest of them feel that they had been taken advantage of. Like things had been kept from them."
This references to the Marxist concept that the richer classes exploit the poorer classes. The "have-nots" feel taken advantage of because between all of them, only Joe seems to be making a notable profit. The "flowery little things" symbolize wealth in this quote, and are a product only seen in the Starks household.
This references to the Marxist concept that the richer classes exploit the poorer classes. The "have-nots" feel taken advantage of because between all of them, only Joe seems to be making a notable profit. The "flowery little things" symbolize wealth in this quote, and are a product only seen in the Starks household.
P48-"There was no doubt that the town respected him and even admired him in a way. But any man who walks in the way of power and property is bound to meet hate."
This clearly shows the envy of "haves" previously seen in Janie's grandmother. The majority of the community who are not as affluent Starks become envious of Starks' wealth and power and this envy evolves into negative feelings towards Stark.
This clearly shows the envy of "haves" previously seen in Janie's grandmother. The majority of the community who are not as affluent Starks become envious of Starks' wealth and power and this envy evolves into negative feelings towards Stark.
P49-"All he got he done made it offa de rest of us. He didn’t have all dat when he come here."
P49-"Speakin’ of winds, he’s de wind and we’se de grass. We bend which ever way he blows..."
P50-"The town had a basketful of feelings good and bad about Joe’s positions and possessions, but none had the temerity to challenge him. they bowed down to him rather, because he was all of these things, and then again he was all of these things because the town bowed down."
At this point in the book, the Proletariats realize the source of Joe's income and power, themselves. Because of the residents existence and need for products, Joe was able to assert authority over the population. It results in a never-ending cycle that eternally places Joe at the top of the social and economic pyramid.
P49-"Speakin’ of winds, he’s de wind and we’se de grass. We bend which ever way he blows..."
P50-"The town had a basketful of feelings good and bad about Joe’s positions and possessions, but none had the temerity to challenge him. they bowed down to him rather, because he was all of these things, and then again he was all of these things because the town bowed down."
At this point in the book, the Proletariats realize the source of Joe's income and power, themselves. Because of the residents existence and need for products, Joe was able to assert authority over the population. It results in a never-ending cycle that eternally places Joe at the top of the social and economic pyramid.
P88-"The Little Emperor of the cross-roads was leaving Orange County as he had come -- with the out-stretched hand of power."
Even in death, Joe Starks was able to assert his influence enough to ensure an elaborate funeral. He maintained his power over the Proletariats until the day he died, demonstrating the "eternal" cycle that allows the Bourgeoisie to dominate the Proletariats.
Even in death, Joe Starks was able to assert his influence enough to ensure an elaborate funeral. He maintained his power over the Proletariats until the day he died, demonstrating the "eternal" cycle that allows the Bourgeoisie to dominate the Proletariats.
P110-"It was after the picnic that the town began to notice things and got mad. Tea Cake and Mrs. Mayor Starks! All the men that she could get, and fooling with somebody like Tea Cake!"
P112-"He don’t know you’se useter uh more high time crowd than dat. You always did class off."
This quote demonstrates how firmly the concept of the Bourgeoisie/Proletariat is embedded in the town residents. The idea of a Bourgeoisie (Janie) possibly marrying a Proletariat (Tea Cake) is seen as preposterous. This explains how easily Joe Starks was able to dominate the residents of the town.
P112-"He don’t know you’se useter uh more high time crowd than dat. You always did class off."
This quote demonstrates how firmly the concept of the Bourgeoisie/Proletariat is embedded in the town residents. The idea of a Bourgeoisie (Janie) possibly marrying a Proletariat (Tea Cake) is seen as preposterous. This explains how easily Joe Starks was able to dominate the residents of the town.
P128-”From now on, you gointuh eat whutever mah money can buy yuh and wear de same. When Ah aint got nothin’ you don’t git nothin’.”
This quote shows the flexibility of Janie's preconceptions. Unlike the residents of her former town, she is willing to abandon her Bourgeoisie class and become a Proletariat with Tea Cake. Evidence of this is her continued labor on the fields of the Everglades. Unlike other examples of Bourgeoisie people, Janie seeks to simply be on the same level as Tea Cake instead of dominating him.
This quote shows the flexibility of Janie's preconceptions. Unlike the residents of her former town, she is willing to abandon her Bourgeoisie class and become a Proletariat with Tea Cake. Evidence of this is her continued labor on the fields of the Everglades. Unlike other examples of Bourgeoisie people, Janie seeks to simply be on the same level as Tea Cake instead of dominating him.
P170-“Whut Ad got tuh do wid dat? Ah’m uh workin’ man wid money in mah pocket. Jus’ got blowed outa de ‘Glades by de storm.”
Here, Tea Cake is being forced into labor by armed white men. Because he is assumed poor and therefore lower in status, the white men are able to dominate him even using illegal methods like force. In this situation the white men are the Bourgeoisie and Tea Cake is a Proletariat. Although Tea Cake financially should be on the same level as the white men, his racial stereotype of being a working class causes him to be classified as a Proletariat nonetheless. This quote shows that although it is possible to analyze with only one lens, it is common to find more than one analysis lens in a situation.
Here, Tea Cake is being forced into labor by armed white men. Because he is assumed poor and therefore lower in status, the white men are able to dominate him even using illegal methods like force. In this situation the white men are the Bourgeoisie and Tea Cake is a Proletariat. Although Tea Cake financially should be on the same level as the white men, his racial stereotype of being a working class causes him to be classified as a Proletariat nonetheless. This quote shows that although it is possible to analyze with only one lens, it is common to find more than one analysis lens in a situation.