When a writer
creates a world that mirrors our own, they usually attempt to shed light on a larger
truth about reality. Hurston’s Their eyes
were watching god has clear parallels with our world: the dialect spoken by
the people has accuracy that stems from Hurston’s extensive anthropological
work. Even the locations in the novel have their counterparts in the reality,
as Eatonville is an actual place in Florida. Primarily, Their eyes were watching god attempts to convey the then
revolutionary idea that in the south and the “muck” there is a
vast amount of beautiful African American culture. While this depiction may be
realistic, however, Hurston’s Their eyes were
watching god may have negative consequences regarding the advancement of
racial equality.
Hurston's novel depicts the African Americans’ experience in the south and the 'muck' as pleasurable, so the
the white reader may think that there is no need for to
promote social change. When working on bean fields, ostensibly under the
oversight and pay of white owners, Jamie and Teacake have great fun. This may
be shocking for some readers to hear and cause them to label Hurston as a ‘pale
poet’, because the then ‘non-pale’ view is that the work of those migrant African
American workers is backbreaking and horrible. Therefore, it is very
revolutionary that Hurston depicts that life as enjoyable. This depiction may lead some
white readers to think that there is no reason for aid, which is the very opposite
of the effect needed for any improvement. Hurston, however, would have thought
of the lack of necessity of white aid as fine because of her intense pride in
African Americans. While Hurston strongly supports equality, she thinks that African
Americans can find a way out of the systematic racism themselves. In the
documentary on Hurston, when segregation was abolished by the government, Hurston
disparages the ruling in her writing, calling it an insult to African Americans.
Hurston’s personal actions are an example of the problems that could be caused
by such a belief.
Basically, Hurston’s
novel and her beliefs could have consequences that are contrary to those
necessary to create equality and end the oppression of African Americans. However,
this suggests that African Americans writers should only depict African
American experience as terrible—an idea which I find repulsive. But, shedding
emotions and viewing this subject through the lens of pure logic, could this
disgusting idea have some basis in reality? Is Hurston a pale poet? Even if she
is a pale poet, is there a problem with that? Tell me what you think.
I think she could be defined as a "pale poet" by protest novel writers like Wright, but I think she chooses not to go the common route of writing a novel that depicts how badly African Americans are treated. I guess she is going above that and is instead showing that black people are people too, that they are just as capable of building a society and they have standards, desires, and pride, and they are more than the people who get oppressed. I think Hurston doesn't want white people's pity, but rather their respect.
ReplyDeleteHurston offers an alternative perspective on African American experiences and shows that there's more than one way of depicting it through fiction. Her views on integration are contrary to what most people would typically think of it but they also show that not everyone thinks the same way. In regards to being a "pale poet," from one perspective Hurston is a "pale poet" but from another her novel is an expression of love and freedom to write about what she wants.
ReplyDeleteThere are definitely some parts of the novel that make Hurston seem like a "pale poet." However, not every novel written by an African American author should have to depict the lives of black people as terrible and sad. Hurston is trying to write a story about love, and maybe this is why the book involves very little mention of white people.
ReplyDeleteWhile there are parts that of African American culture and life that are vital, the argument is that there are many instances in Hurston's novel that work against the aims of those seeking equality.
DeleteThe topic of pastoralism came up in class a few times. Hurston idealizes the view of the glades to the point where it seems like the best place ever. Who wouldn't want to live in a place where everyone has fun and parties every week. Wright critiques Hurston for failing to mention the authoritative white power structure that all these farmers are working under. As seen in Native Son, Wright believes the point of fiction is to protest the established power and advocate for more rights. Wright obviously views Hurston as a "pale poet".
ReplyDeleteHurston is making a very important commentary on the ability of women in her book. While the black rights movement grew so did many feminist movements. This may not be protest fiction in the context of black protest fiction but it is meaningful. I also think that is important for white readers to see black men and women as hard working laborers who are able to of many things create and efficiently run their own town. It is also a great perspective for historians of today to go back and look at this book for life in these all black communities.
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