Their Eyes were watching god

            The use of language is very evident within the first chapter of Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. The reader is given no introduction or preface as to what is going on in the story. We immediately have to read the language of the south and become familiar with their vocabulary. It is interesting how the reader becomes used to the writing and the dialect within just a few chapters. Dialog begins to make sense and becomes much simpler to read. .
             Hurston uses language not only by literally using spelling that represents their dialect but also by representing control. Almost as if the "voice" represents power. Janie goes through many situations of losing and then regaining her "voice" and essentially her power. Janie's first marriage to the older man Logan resulted in her complete loss of voice. She was treated more as a slave than a wife. .
             When she married Jody, she was able to be much more outspoken and was urged to be social but only as an ornament to her important husband. She had gained a voice but one that was not her own and was being forced and molded by her husband. Ultimately she was able to find her own voice and therefore gain power and verbally attack her husband. This empowering feeling led to the confidence to marry a much younger man despite town gossip.
             Janie's final marriage was one of voice and power. She was able to speak as she wanted and was put in an equal position as her husband. They were able to have conversations as equals and Janie was able to voice her opinion as needed. .
             Hurston uses the ability to speak and the right to voice opinion as means to empowerment and control. Ultimately Janie was able to find who she was through years of being silenced and then being able to stand up for herself and use her "voice". .