2/5/09
Journal Entry 3: Their Eyes Were Watching God-Chapter 4

Literary Device 1: Characterization
Page 30
"Shucks! 'Tain't no mo' fools lak me. A whole lot of mens will grin in yo' face, but dey ain't gwine tu work and feed yuh when dad big gut reach over and grab dad little one, you'll be too glad to come back here."
Explanation: Hurston uses Logan's dialogue to show his opinion of Janie. Logan's reaction to Janie's behavior is a method of characterization. It highlights the things Jamie values in a husband, and, in a way, portrays her as superficial. Both her grandmother in previous chapters and her husband make it clear that she should be grateful that she is married to someone who is willing to take care of her, even if he isn't affectionate or romantic. However, Janie will only feel satisfied if her husband shows her what she believes to be care. Unfortunately for Janie, those who speak to her lovingly and give her affection are not certain to be good husbands to her, as she discovers later in the story.

Literary Device 2: Simile
Page 31
" Logan with his shovel looked like a black bear doing some clumsy dance on his hind legs."
Explanation: This simile is particularly effective in conveying Janie's feeling of contempt for her husband. The simile mocks Logan and his physical appearance, which serves as a way for Janie to take her anger out on him for asking her to work.

Literary Device 3: Hyperbole
Pg. 31
"Youse mad 'cause ah don't fall down and wash up dese sixty acres uh ground yuh got."
Explanation: The hyperbole illustrates the annoyance Janie feels toward Logan for expecting her to work. She implys through the exaggeration that nothing she does(in terms of work) is enough to please him.

Literary Device 4: Motif
Pg. 32
"From now on until death she was going to have flower dust and springtime sprinkled over everything. A bee for her bloom."
Explanation: Springtime and blooming flowers are recurring images in this story. They represent Janie's idealistic expectations of what life is like when one is in love. Janie believes that she is in love with Joe, and that because he has talked sweetly to her and promised her a life of ease, that her life will now only consist of pleasant experiences and happiness. She believes that Joe is the "bee" that will pollinate her "bloom"(her idealistic hopes) with happiness.

Literary Device 5: Personification
Pg. 33
"They sat on the boarding house porch and saw the sun plunge into the same crack in the earth from which the night emerged."
Explanation: The personification of the sun in this passage foreshadows the experiences that lie ahead for Janie. She has been very happy, but hard times are bound to follow. These difficulties will be connected to Joe, who was the reason for her initial happiness. However, he will also be the one that spoils her happiness. Therefore, her happiness, like the sun, will disappear the same way that it emerged.