People who are oppressed or taken advantage of are as much to blame for their condition as those who oppress them, because they shirk responsibility, and do not stand up to abuse from the oppressors. I am not sure if it is too vague or if it is focused enough, or if "taken advantage of" is a metaphor.
On page 234 the passage beginning with "The folks in the quarters and the people in the big houses" and ending with "The bossman might have the thing stopped before morning anyway." illustrates this because the oppressed people don't make their own decisions, they just follow the rich peoples' examples. Personification is used in this passage to show power. The atmosphere is worried. I saw it as them pawning responsibility off on those in charge.
On page 210, Mrs. Turner says, "De black ones is holdin' us back." She means it as the very dark people are ruining the reputation of the lighter black people, but I took it as that the blacks are holding progress back. Hurston used situational irony, because Mrs. Turner herself is one of the hinderences to progress. The ambiguity of the statement makes stand out.
On page 58, Hicks says, "Ah did think about it one day, but then Ah forgot it and ain't thought about it since then." He is talking about a mayor of Eatonville. The oppressed men all dream of power, but few of them act on this want.
On page 75, the passage, "They had murmured hotly about slavery being over, but every man filled his assignment." shows exactly the thesis. They think it is oppression, but they refuse to stand up to it. Hurston uses auditory imagery to show the mens' feelings.
On pages 85-86, The passage that begins with "Janie noted that while he didn't talk the mule himself," and ends with, "That was the rock she was battered against" shows Janie's internal struggle against Joe's oppression, but she does not try to change her condition, just grumps about it. Hurston uses a lot of frustrated and mad diction.
On pages 69-70 the passage that begins, "Thank yuh for yo' compliments, but mah wife don't know nothin' 'bout no speech makin'." and ends with, "He strode along invested with his new dignity, thought and planned out loud, unconscious of her thoughts." shows Janie's silent fuming. This quote, however, also tells why she is mad. She wants to make her own decisions, but does not even let Joe know that. "Janie made her face laugh" is diction that first alerts the reader of her rage. The motif of the tree in bloom is continued, but this time it is in a negative light because the bloom was missing.
I think your theme is a unique idea and can really work! A lot of people focus on Janie, so I like how you focus on the community instead.
ReplyDeleteI feel the sentence is a bit of a run-on. Also, responsibility and conditions should be defined. "Taken advantage of" is also a bit vague in my opinion. What weakness are they giving into?
I agree with Elizabeth. You have an awesome theme! I would say you should break your theme up into more then one sentence. Maybe breaking it where you say "because...".
ReplyDeleteAre you using taken advantage of to make oppressed more specific?
I think you could clarify what responsibility the oppressed people are shirking from. Is it responsibility to themselves? Or to others?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I agree that oppressed/taken advantage of is vague. Why are they oppressed? I like the idea you have and how you present it. Good job!