Cannery Row Essay, Research Paper

Were whites truly the suppressive force in the Harlem Renaissance? In the book, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston accurately portrays the hardships endured by the black race, despite the disreputable thoughts and writings of critics who felt the story did not truly convey the severe misery of the times. On the contrary, this novel reaches a brave, bold way of thinking, by depicting blacks who suppress themselves through their own racism, and self-pity. This book does show hardships of the time and thoroughly details black suppression; therefore, this book belongs in the Harlem Renaissance.

By taking Janie, the main character, through her experiences of mental and physical abuse the author reveals how she in fact does experience true pain and suffering. The incidences of her being abused are rarely referenced too, however the reader is lead to infer on her continuous suffering. One such time her abuse was referred to directly was when Mrs. Turner invited a potential husband to meet Janie, who was already married to Tea-cake whom she loved. In retaliation before the week was over he had whipped Janie (147), to show his continuing ownership and control over her. This shows that the novel does not hide the truth of abuse, but in fact shows her pain as a greater force in her life by treating it indifferent from her average days occurrences.

When pain and distress through the Harlem Renaissance is brought to mind, one conjures up images of persecution of blacks in slavery and white tyranny. This author represents Janie

suffering from several other forms of ill treatment not usually associated with suffering of the times.

Tea-cake is taken to the doctor after his wound form the dog bight worsens. Janie learns of his fatal decease with the doctor.

Janie, I m pretty sure that was a mad dawg bit yo husband. It s too late to get hold of de dawg s head. But de symptoms is all there. It s a mighty bad dat it s gone on so long. Some shots rights after it happened would have fixed him right up.

You mean he s liable to die, doctuh?

Sho is. But de worst thing is he s liable tuh suffer somethin awful befo he goes (177).

Although Janie did not under go any specific harm in this passage, she is forced into a realization of herself being a widow again and also must witness her husband s

critical condition and demise. This demonstrates that she has to deal with great pain, and is left in the world by herself.

Janie is all alone in the world because she prevents her own wealth and stability by making bad choices in her husbands despite the warnings of fellow wives and town women. Her bad choices lead to the idea that she could have avoided all problems by simply staying with Logan. When following her heart Janie chooses to suppress her own future of security and begin a quest for love that proves unattainable in the end. Janie suffers harsh consequences from her own misjudgments and is forced to pay by living a life of disparity in which she cannot find love.

A novel that deals with love being a central conflict is not appealing to the eyes of critics who are looking to express the physical suppression of blacks suffering under white mans power. Critics also believe Janie as well as the black community does not endure enough physical pain and misery to earn this books classification as a Harlem Renaissance novel. This is because life seemingly comes easily due to the lack of a white society oppressing, and the abundance of money in the ghetto. Supporting this idea is Joe, when he simply saved up some money-round three hundred dollars (28) by working for the white folks. Where as In reality blacks were whipped, chained, and forced to work and were paid very little or nothing.

In order to see the truth about how Janie s life is not easy, the reader must understand that what the author tries to convey as pain and suffering is not stereotypical slavery. The author is more interested in her troubles as a person trying to find a mate who she can love, and her difficulties with marriages. The lack of dramatic detail describing Janie s physically painful standard of living, leads critics to a false conclusion. The true oppression of this story was not the evident problem of the times, but rather a reoccurring theme of mental suffering accompanied by her deceptively minor physical abuse. This book is a story of a treacherous reality clashing with a young woman s dream life, earning its way into The Harlem Renaissance.