An Analysis Of Janie’s Self-reconstruction In Their Eyes Were Watching God From Power And Discourse Theory

Zora Neale Hurston, one of the most outstanding black female writers inAfrican-American literature in the twentieth century, is also regarded as the backboneof the Harlem Renaissance in the1930s. However, she suffered controversy duringthe span of her life. It was not until the1970s that she was rediscovered andreevaluated by scholars, receiving due attention from people. She is honored as theforerunner of the contemporary African-American literature, and is considered as themother of the African-American female literature. Many famous African-Americanfemale writers in the twentieth century have been greatly indebted to her, such as ToniMorrison, Alice Walker, etc.. Published in1937, the novel Their Eyes Were WatchingGod is widely known as her masterpiece. As the first novel revealing theself-consciousness of the black women, it is a milestone in the history of theAfrican-American literature. Nowadays, this novel is not only a classic of theAfrican-American literature, but also a classic of the American literature.Since the1970s, scholars at home and abroad have studied the novel fromdifferent perspectives, such as feminist, womanist, racial culture, black folklore andinitiation theme. The present thesis interprets the fate of the protagonist Janie in thenovel from the perspective of Foucault’s power and discourse theory. Different fromher grandma and mother who are submissive to their repressed fate, Janie refuses toaccept the traditionally wretched fates of the African-American females. Breaking therepression of the discourse of power in the white people’s world, Janie bravelyfollows her inner voice, seeks her self-value, and achieves self-reconstruction finally.This thesis consists of four chapters, besides the introduction and conclusion.The introduction introduces Zora Neale Hurston and Their Eyes Were WatchingGod, the literature review on this novel, and the research aspect and theoreticalfoundation of this thesis.Chapter One compares the different fates of the three generations in the novel.Grandma Nanny suffers the cruel repression of the slavery. Having been raped by her white master, Nanny is forced to flee to another town and bring up her daughter byherself. Mother Leafy is a mixed blood. She is raped at her seventeen, since thenbecomes insane. Daughter Janie, the protagonist in the novel, is brought up by Nanny,bearing all the hope of Nanny. Realizing that she is the result of two rapes, she isdetermined to seek a new life for herself. Janie’s victory in bravely resisting therepression of the discourse of power sets a great example for all theAfrican-American females in the world.Chapter Two analyses Janie’s helplessness in the world full of the discourse ofpower. Janie marries an old man named Logan who she does not love. Following thepersuasion of Nanny, Janie oppresses her inner desire to play the role of a contentedwife. In the first marriage, Logan requires her to be a tame mule working for him andobey his orders completely. Janie tries to play the role of a mule until the appearanceof Joe brings her new hope for the distant horizon. The elopement with Joe declaresthe end of Janie’s first marriage. In the second marriage, the wealthy entrepreneur Joeprovides a superior life for Janie, but he considers her as the pretty doll, the propertyand the affiliation of him. In these processes of being repressed by the discourse ofpower, Janie’s self-consciousness is in the embryonic stage.Chapter Three elaborates the awakening of Janie’s self-consciousness under therepression of the discourse of power. Foucault believes that repression and resistancecoexist and interact with each other within power. Janie is reluctant to be the victimof the discourse of power. She gets rid of the influence of Nanny gradually,challenges the authority of Logan, and combats the domination of Joe over her.Complying with her inner voice, Janie bravely pursues her spiritual independence andself-realization.Chapter Four expounds the reconstruction of Janie. The marital union with TeaCake is consistent with her inner voice. The convincing testimony in courtdemonstrates that Janie has grown into an independent African-American female whoowns her own voice. Returning to Eatonville, Janie recollects her experiences to herfriend peacefully. Finally, Janie breaks the repression of the discourse of power andrealizes self-reconstruction. The Conclusion summarizes the foregoing discussion. Foucault’s power anddiscourse theory enlightens the author of this thesis to consider the fates of theAfrican-American females in Their Eyes Were Watching God. In the world full of thediscourse of power, the African-American females’ failure in realizing theirself-value is due to their deference to the discourse of power. However, Janie longs toachieve self-realization and self-affirmation. She bravely resists the repression of thediscourse of power and reconstructs herself finally. The life journey of Janie givesenlightenment to the all the African-American females to change their plight, mastertheir fate, and realize the values of their life.