The Sound of Silence - Literature Essay Samples

In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neal Hurston uses language as a tool to show the progression of the story. Throughout the novel, Hurston uses a narrative style that is split between poetic literary prose and the vernacular of Southern blacks. This style emphasizes Janie’s change from immature girl to mature woman, as she struggles to find her voice amidst the bustling throng of her already noisy life. As Janie gets older and wiser, the narration as well as Janie’s own voice change to parallel her own changes. Language and the control of it is Janie’s source of identity and empowerment. The first chapters of Their Eyes Were Watching God set the framework for how language is to be used in the chapters to come. The story begins in the third person, as a narrator describes the arrival of Janie Starks back to Eatonville. Here the style is full of metaphors, colorful language and other literary devices. Before Janie says a word, we hear the voices of the go ssipers on the porch, foreshadowing Janie’s interactions later to come: â€Å"A mood come alive. Words walking without masters† (Hurston 4). When Janie begins to tell her story, the narrative style switches to long strings of monologue and dialogue, in the colloquial voice of Southern African Americans. The complicated web of changing narrative is representative of Janie’s complicated quest to find her voice. The two styles are not completely disjoint from one another, however, as the third person omniscient narrator often relates back to events or thoughts known only to Janie. In fact, the narrator is a character unto itself, as it seems to enjoy telling stories as much as any of the other characters, and has a personality of its own, with the only linguistic difference being the absence of the black dialect. This is evidenced in various colloquialisms peppered throughout the poetic prose, as in the second paragraph of the first chapter, where the narrator ’s use of â€Å"now† at the beginning of the sentence serves as conversational filler: â€Å"Now, women forget all those things they don’t want to remember, and remember everything they don’t want to forget† (1). The various characters in the novel use language to manipulate those around them, and to exert their will on others, though not entirely always intentional. Jody Sparks is the first such character to employ speech and language, or more appropriately the lack thereof, in his efforts to model Janie into his ideal woman. Jody never accepts Janie for whom she is, and effectively stunts her emotional and intellectual growth while they are married. The first instance of this occurs when Jody is elected as the mayor of Eatonville. The townspeople all call for Janie to make a speech on Jody’s behalf, but Jody refuses to allow her to speak, saying that he never married her for the purpose of making speeches and that â€Å"she’s uh woman and her place is in de home† (40). By not allowing Janie to speak in front of the crowd, Jody is not allowing her to express her own identity, and instead forces an identity upon her. For Jody, language and speech are the tools he uses to control. For the people of Eatonville, language and speech are the ties that bind everyone together, and nurtures relationships. In chapter six of the novel, this is exemplified by Janie’s desire to listen to the various conversations of the inhabitants of the town. She longs for an identity of her own and a community where she is free to explore herself and others. She is unable at Eatonville to do so because of her husband’s strict hold on her. Janie learns for herself in chapter six that she was initially drawn to Jody’s power but it is his power that is restricting her. By observing the townspeople and their daily conversations, she realizes that there is a colorful world beyond the walls that Jody has set up for her. She starts to see that he is keeping her from this world of conversation when he â€Å"hustle[s] her off inside the store to sell something,† while he remains outside to indulge himself whenever townsfolk gather on the porch to share stories (51). As Jody’s body deteriorates, he draws attention away from his aging exterior by directing insults at Janie, yet another example of his using language as a tool to control her. Now that Jody is physically incapable of exerting his power over anyone, he must rely on this tool to preserve the imbalance of power he has over Janie. By insulting Janie’s appearance, he is attempting to recreate the world he lives in to look less like one where he is obviously dying. Here, in chapters seven and eight, Janie makes her first stand against the cruelty of her husband by speaking out in her own defense, when previously she was either too afraid or unable to speak. She fights back verbally against Jody, r eturning the insults that he fired at her and telling him to his face that she is a woman through and through which is more than she can say for him, thereby robbing him â€Å"of his illusion of irresistible maleness that all men cherish† (75). Now that Jody’s voice is silenced by Janie, his only rebuttal is violence, because he can no longer present himself as the pillar of his community. Janie finally finds her voice, and is able to break free from Jody’s rhetorical grip. It is no coincidence that Jody dies when Janie’s words are finally freed. The death of Jody marks the beginning of a new stage in Janie’s development, as well as the entrance of a new love interest in Tea Cake. Tea Cake is dissimilar from Jody in that he treats Janie as if they were both on the same level, rather than one being superior to the other. Upon their first meeting, the two talk for a long while and even play checkers, a game that puts the players on equal footi ng, and a game that Jody never allowed her to play. Their first conversation contrasts from Janie’s first interaction with Jody in that instead of being charmed and overwhelmed by sweet talk, Janie and Tea Cake are both active participants in flirting with one another. The narrator steps in to describe Jody and Janie’s interactions after their first meeting, saying simply that â€Å"every day after that they managed†¦ to talk,† while the conversations between Janie and Tea Cake are documented for several pages, hinting at the nature of the two relationships (28). Previously, when Janie was still at Eatonville with Jody, her desire to join with the community in conversation was an emotional response to her being intellectually stifled by her husband. This is in contrast to Janie’s feelings toward community later on when she and Tea Cake start dating. Janie’s relationship with Tea Cake is more intimate than she previously experienced, and t hus has no need for other forms of human contact. The community of Eatonville is resentful of their relationship precisely because of this; it cuts them out of the equation, as it were. Janie is able now to dismiss the petty gossip that pervades throughout the town because she is more secure with herself. Janie’s growth as an individual is further explored in her conversation with Pheoby in chapter twelve. In the dialogue between the two, Janie articulates complex ideas and can express emotions that she could not express prior to her being with Tea Cake. Instead of saying outright that she hates her grandmother, as she did in chapter nine, Janie is now able to reason that Nanny’s point of view was a result of her harsh upbringing as a slave. It is interesting to note that all Janie’s epiphanies about life take place through conversation, as her journey to find her own voice and her journey to figure out who she is are one and the same. We see clearly th at she is growing into someone she likes, and that Tea Cake is helping her get there. When describing her feelings towards Tea Cake, Janie tells us that â€Å"he done taught me the maiden language all over,† essentially giving her the power to speak and thus form an identity for herself (102). Much later in the novel, the act of not speaking again shows a display of power, but this time the roles are reversed. Instead of Janie being silenced and thus losing her identity as with Jody, Janie chooses to react to Tea Cake’s abuse of her in chapter seventeen with self imposed silence. Rather than a show of domination or repression from another, Janie’s silence in chapter seventeen reflects within her certain strength. She no longer needs to express herself verbally to be an individual, and uses her own silence as her own tool for herself. With the beating inflicted by Tea Cake, Janie chooses to allow her body to be abused for the sake of the pride of the man s he loves. This point in the novel serves as the climax. Here we have Janie’s transformation into the woman she has journeyed so long to become, as well as the destructive hurricane. For much of the second half of the novel, Janie’s voice finds its way onto the page more often than the narrators’, but at the trial, where Janie tells the story of why she killed her husband, her voice is mysteriously absent from the proceedings. Here, in chapter nineteen, the narrator simply summarizes what Janie says, rather than having her speak directly to the reader: â€Å"She talked†¦ She just sat there and told and when she was through she hushed† (178). Even though she does speak at one point to address the jury, she does not speak to the reader. Following her silence to show her inner strength in the face of Tea Cake’s abuse, Janie’s silence at the trial indicates that she has finally achieved mastery over her own voice, and does need to speak in order to say what she needs. Their Eyes Were Watching God is a coming of age story for Janie, and her evolution as a character is expressed in the language used to tell that story. Throughout the novel, Hurston uses a split style narrative, switching back and forth between the third person omniscient narrator and the voice of the characters it describes. Through the back and forth between narrator and Janie’s voice, we see a gradual progression, from an immature girl who kisses boys just because to a strong and intellectually capable woman who has been to the horizon and back again. Ultimately, Janie becomes a woman because she is not afraid to be silent, and knows that sometimes the best way to communicate with someone is to say nothing at all.

What to Do During Spring Break Striking a Balance Between Work and Play

As the official start to the spring season gets ever closer, many college and high school students are deciding what to during spring break, most likely one of their favorite times of year. While the event often conjures up images of young adults spending time on the beach, tossing their work and studies aside, not using some of the time to be productive can actually be quite a waste.However, it is also important for your student to take at least some of the time to relax and rejuvenate. That way, they are better prepared to make it to the end of the semester without burning out or succumbing to stress.So, how does a parent help their child strike a balance between work and play during this annual event? By using some of the tips below.Understand Your Limits AS A PARENTThe amount of influence a parent has on their child over spring break depends on a few factors. First, you likely have more sway over a high schooler than a college student who is legally an adult. Second, if your chil d still lives in your home, or comes back during the break, you likely also have more say.So, before you start making decisions about how they will spend their time, make sure the level of oversight you are providing is appropriate to their current situation. And even then, do your best to provide information as suggestions instead of ultimatums. Often, youll get better results if your student feels at least part of the decision was theirs, so tact is going to be your best friend.Work/Play Balance for High SchoolersAt this point of the year, your ideal course of action for a high schooler likely depends on their current grade level. For example, high school seniors still have time to explore scholarship opportunities. If you want to know how to help them get into the scholarship hunt, you can join our free webinar for more information. Alternatively, now may be a great time to take on a short-term volunteer opportunity to help build their credentials or to simply study their current coursework to help them maintain their footing.High school juniors can begin looking into scholarships as well, though they need to make sure they only apply to scholarships whose award dates are based on when they will start college. Still, many parents are surprised to learn that juniors can apply for scholarships and now is the time!If you want to learn when students should be applying for scholarships (from junior year in high school, all the way through college,) check out our article on When Your Child Should Be Applying for Scholarships.Related article:When Your Child Should Be Applying for ScholarshipsOther activities like test prep for the SATs or ACTs may be valuable as well, and adding a visit to any local university campus of interest can help them see the light at the end of the high school tunnel.But dont make their entire break about working and studying. Instead, make sure they take some time to rest and recharge in ways that are meaningful to them. This could incl ude spending time with friends doing something fun or even catching up on some guilty pleasure television. If you want ideas for activities that you can do together, check out the suggestions herewhere we wrote 15 Fun Activities to Enjoy With Your Kids. While some are focused around the holiday season, many can be done throughout the entire year!Work/Play Balance for College Students at HomeIf your college student still lives at home, then the same advice that would go for a high school senior can be appropriate. Often, once your child begins college, taking time throughout the year to explore scholarships is always a good idea as well as suitable volunteering ventures or simple study sessions. And balancing those out with some socializing and sleeping in is perfectly fine.However, if your college student is a senior about to enter the working world, then this can be a great time to job hunt if they havent started already. And this goes double for those graduating in May instead of June. Most job placements can take some time to work through, so upcoming graduates can begin submitting applications for positions, especially jobs designed specifically with recent graduates in mind.But, it is important to remember that jetting off to somewhere for spring break can be seen as a college-age tradition. In cases where your child is an adult, has their own money, and can support the trip while meeting the rest of their obligations, you will just need to wish them a good voyage. However, if it involves a plane flight to reach their destination, dont be afraid to suggest doing a little studying while they head out on their journey.Work/Play Balance for College Students Away from HomeNot every college student heads back home over spring break after spending time in the dorms. Some stay on campus to keep up with obligations and activities there while others head off to vacation destinations to blow off steam. Surprisingly, if your child is staying on campus to keep up wit h work or get ahead in school, it may be more important for you to encourage them to take some time off than to push them to accomplish more.Students experiencing high levels of stress about their academic progress may think a week long study session is the only answer and, while their dedication is admirable, all work and no play doesnt do anyone any good. So, check in with your child regularly to gauge how they are doing and try to offer advice when appropriate. At a minimum, make sure they spend at least some time with friends during the break. Even if that time ultimately turns into a group study session, managing the task in a social manner may be better for their overall mental health.Having an Adult ChildOne of the hardest adjustments required of parents of college-aged children is understanding that some of the paradigm has changed. Your child is likely now a legal adult and is probably asserting at least a noticeable amount of control over their own lives. Ultimately, it is important to respect their developing adulthood, but that doesnt mean you cant provide input (especially if they live at home with free room and board, or you are paying for their college education).Just make sure to handle discussions with care regarding suggestions about how they use their spring break. And, if they are paying their own way in life, including living and college expenses, understand that if they have properly prepared a week of fun in the sun (or snow or woods) isnt likely to damage their entire future. Sometimes, we all just want to have a good time, so dont deny them this rite of passage if their ducks are otherwise in a row.Now that weve shared some ideas of how your child can spend their spring break, wed love to hear what your family is doing! Share what your college-aged child, whether in high school or college, is doing with their break.PinRedditShare2 Comments