The pear tree and how Janie says it's in perfect
harmony with nature can be compared to "perfect"
marriages in the media that everyday people look to
for guidance on how marriage should be. Even
though Janie can't see it there are problems within
the so called perfect harmony of the little ecosystem
around the tree. Just like within these "perfect"
marriages that people compare theirs too there are
problems that cannot be seen from the view of the
media.
There is a lot of symbolism in the first two chapters: the horizon, the pear tree, nature, and mules. Ms. Hurston focuses a lot on the pear tree and nature around it. She uses this as a symbol for marriage and how couples interact with each other. The pear tree looks like it is in perfect harmony with nature to Janie, but some pear trees are harmful to animals-showing that some couples' relationships look perfect, but both people can be harmful to each other.
The pear tree is one of my favorite symbols in all of literature. Truly. The imagery she uses to develop it is breath-taking. I don't know if I see it as a symbol of marriage so much as love, which sadly are two very different things sometimes.
ReplyDeleteWhat did you think of the opening scene when Janie is returning to Eatonville?
I love the opening scene I feel like it shows that Janie's life has come full circle and she's had her fun and now she's back to the start ready to really live out the rest of her life.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that you like the southern dialect, because I can't stand reading it. I have to read each paragraph multiple times to understand what is happening, but maybe thats just me. I also agree on loving Janie, she is a feminist icon before her time, kind of like the wife of baths.
ReplyDeleteOh my! I love that connection to the Wife of Bath, but man, I think Janie would find her to be craaaaaazy! And the Wife would want Janie to get out there and start using her power...
DeleteI think it is interesting that you like the dialect as well. When I first started reading the book, I struggled a little bit because it was so different. I honestly hated it at first. The more I read, the more comfortable I am with it.
ReplyDeleteI think you're the first person I saw that said they loved the Southern dialect. Nice.
ReplyDelete