Stereotypes

In our 21st century world shifted towards unity between the several races & ethnicities, social statuses, and cultural backgrounds of the world, the use of stereotypes to assert dominance is slowly dwindling. Throughout Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston makes use of such differences to further develop the novel’s plot as well as some core differences that caused Janie’s several encounters with love itself to falter. In the earlier parts of the novel, Janie’s return to town (donning an outfit declared much-under-par by the women of the town, whom quickly become disgusted with other aspects of Janie’s outward expression) is chastised by woman as she exclaims, “What she doin coming back here in dem overalls?” (Hurston 2).

The use of stereotypical paradigms as incorporated in Jody’s opinion of the men outside the shop essentially enforces the character (not simply the division of social classes!) of Jody as well as the men of Eatonville. Jody justifies his opinion with an excuse ever-so-fitting of someone of his archetype, stating, “You’se Mrs. Mayor Starks, Janie. I god, Ah can’t see what uh woman uh yo’ stability would want tuh be treasurin’ all dat gum-grease from folks dat don’t even own de house dey sleep in. ’Tain’t no earthly use. They’s jus’ some puny humans playin’ round de toes uh Time.“ It becomes evident throughout Janie’s marriage to Jody that he is a man of dominance, and especially expresses this through his treatment towards those not equal to his own social status.

Pictured below is a “modern” twist on such stereotypes depicted throughout Their Eyes Were Watching God.