Comparison between 2 novels
Rare is the strong woman in literature as the protagonist. Even rarer is that woman in classic literature. Some novels however, use that basis for their claim to "classic" status. Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hustron, and The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are two of these novels. Their protagonists, Janie Starks and Hester Prynne, respectively, are both strong women who defy society and survive on their own sheer will. What comparison can possibly be made between two women in vastly different time periods and backgrounds? Janie and Hester, for all their individuality, provided the same basic character traits for the protagonist in both novels. Janie is a strong woman, born high in her portion of society. From birth, she is generally considered above other blacks, and especially black women. She is attractive, strong, and independent. Her life revolves around one incident in her youth. Her vision of love. "She saw a dust-bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom; the thousand sister-calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree from root to tiniest branch creaming in every blossom and frothing with delight. So this was a marriage! She h
ad been summoned to behold a revelation. Then Janie felt a pain remorseless sweet that left her limp and languid" (Hurston 10-11). Her dream, her goal, in life is to fall in love with that one perfect man. When her marriage with Logan does not satisfy her need, she leaves him, thinking that maybe Joe is the bee for her blossom. When that sours she again loses heart, but jumps at another opportunity with Tea Cake after Joe passes away. Her will and spirit are stronger than anyone else's in the novel. No matter what life throws at her she perseveres and comes out on top. Even with the love of her life ravaged by rabies she has the endurance and spirit to make it through with hope and a positive mind. "It was the meanest moment in eternity. A minute before she was just a scared human being fighting for its life. Now she was here sacrificing self with Tea Cake's head in her lap. She had wanted him to live so much and now he was dead. No hour is ever eternity, but it has its right to weep. Janie held his head tightly to her breast and wept and thanked him wordlessly for giving her the chance for loving service" (Hurston 175). Janie always looks within herself to find her heart and its path and she follows it. She has the courage to ignore society's traditional conventions and fight for what she wants. For what will make her happy. Both Janie and Hester are strong, independent women who fight for themselves. These women are generally seen as a threat to society and its foundation. Men often try to hold these women down, but they struggle to the top of their individual worlds. Despite all the obstacles, both find a way, in the end, to a life they want. Janie has her perfect love and Hester has finished with her penance and her relationship with Dimmesdale is out in the open. Both of them survive and prosper in a life that leaves much to be desired. Janie sums up her attitude while talking to Pheoby: "Two things everybody's got tuh do fuh theyselves. They
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1339
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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