Self-Perception Is What Counts

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Marissa Baird ENGWR 101: MW 12-2pm Professor Graham 25 November 2014 Assignment: Compare and Contrast Paper Final Draft Self-Perception is What Counts The everlasting Southern love story of an independent woman is illustrated through the colorful words of Zora Neale Hurston, in her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. Janie, the protagonist, is introduced at the beginning of the novel as a natural and comfortable woman. Janie goes through her life story of growing up with Nanny, who took care of Janie, three marriages, and her journey to find new adventures and love. Janie’s self-perception and visions of her life were conflicting from others around her. Nanny believed that her decision, which was to have Janie marry Logan Killicks, was out of love. Since Nanny was born, lived in the period of slavery, and was a slave herself, she wanted protection for Janie from being used and abused. Nanny supports her feeling by stating, “‘Tain’t Logan Killicks Ah wants you to have, baby, its protection” (Hurston 15). Nanny was making sure that Janie had a future set in stone without any kind of heartache or discrepancies. Nanny felt by marrying Janie off to Logan, Janie would live to be free and Nanny would not have to worry so much and knew she would be well taken care of. Nanny is protecting Janie from getting a reputation like her mother, Leafy. Nanny goes on to explain what happened to Leafy: “Dat school teacher had done hid her in de woods all night long, and he had done raped mah baby and run on off just before day” (Hurston 19). Leafy became a drinker and would be out all hours of the night after Janie was born; therefore, Nanny is trying to keep Janie safe. Furthermore, Logan Killicks was also trying to protect Janie by listening to Nanny and wanted Janie to be happy and have a good reputation with what he had to offer. Sixty acres of land and a young beautiful
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