The use of clothing in the novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God." by Zora Neale Hurston

In the novel Their Eyes were watching God Zora Neale Hurston

portrays a woman named Janie's search for love and freedom.

Janie, throughout the novel, bounces through three different

marriages, with a brief stint at being a widow in between.

Throughout these episodes, Hurston uses Janie`s clothing as a

visual bookmark of where Janie is in her search for true love

and how she is being influenced by those around her.

Janie's first article of clothing is an apron that she wears

while married to Logan Killiks as a hard working sixteen year

old. Logan, who Janie describes as looking like 'an `ol

skullhead in de grave yard,' (pg. 13) marries Janie to fulfill

the role laid down by Janie's grandmother, a mule. Janie goes

along with this for nearly a year, until change comes walking

down the road in the form of Joe Starks. Joe is a 'citified,

stylish man with a hat set at an angle that didn't belong in

those parts,' and he wants to take Janie away.

Zora Neale Hurston, American author. Deutsch: Zora...

Zora Neale Hurston Photographer: Carl Van Vechten....

English: Janie Fricke

Joe's dream is to

become 'big man' and pleads Janie to take part in his dreams of

the future. He proposes marriage to her, and arranges a

rendezvous at the bottom of the road at sunup the next morning.

Janie is torn because Jody 'does not represent sun-up pollen and

blooming trees, but he spoke of the far horizon....The memory of

Nanny was still strong.' (pg. 28) When Janie decides to leave

the next morning for, if nothing else, a healthy change, she

looks down and sees the apron which has stood for all the things

she has had to do for Logan,' and flung it on a small bush

beside the road. Then she walked on, picking flowers and making

a bouquet.' (pg. 31) When Janie threw the...