Their Eyes Were Watching God Research Paper

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In the work Their Eyes Were Watching God by: Zora Neale Hurston, the literary element of symbolism is used quite often. Symbolism is when a sign, symbol, or object represents something other than itself. The symbol that is used the most in this work is the symbol of the mule. There are many different meanings and interpretations of this specific symbol. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, the symbol of the mule is used in three different parts or aspects of the work. The first time the mule is used as a symbol is when Janie is talking to her grandmother Nanny. Nanny explains how women are “de mule(s) uh de world” and without women, nothing would get done. This symbolizes that mules are hardworking and an example of this is women like Nanny said. The second time the symbol of the mule is used is when Janie is married to her first husband named Logan Killiks. Instead of a job, Janie cleans around the house and cooks for herself and Logan. Even though this for Janie to do everyday, Logan doesn’t believe that she works hard at all. After thinking it over, Logan decides to buy Janie a mule so she can work along side him in the fields and take care of the household. When Logan goes to buy the mule, Janie meets Joe Starks and decides to run away with him. In this part of the work the symbol of the mule represents hard work again, but it is represented in two different ways. The first way is about Janie’s hard work in life and achieving the life Nanny wanted Janie to have. “De nigger women is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah can see. Ah been prayin’ fuh it tuh e different wid you.” (Rachel Blau DuPlessis) The second way is about Janie working hard to fall in love with Logan, but fails to because he is old, boring, and Janie finds him unattractive and uninteresting. The third time the symbol of the mule is mentioned in Their Eyes Were Watching God is when Janie is in

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