Harlem Renaissance Ideals were introduced in the hope that African Americans could become more accepted for who they were. During this era many authors, composers and artists used their talent to communicate the ideals. The Harlem Renaissance ideals were displayed through music, art, and literature such as this novel. These ideals included changing stereotypes, promoting racial consciousness, …show more content…
After Joe Starks has died Janie is set free from his abuse, “ Before she slept that night she burnt up every one of her head rags”. Hurston writes with a certain tone of happiness that Janie is now relieved of all that Joe was. This quote enforces asserting agency because Joe had always told her to wear her head rags, but now he is gone and cannot command her any longer so she burns them to tell herself that she is now in control of her life. Janie had not demonstrated asserting agency before this, but she did at this moment and it led her to many more opportunities in …show more content…
“Ah jus lak a chicken” (114) Hurston puts characterizes Pheoby as a chicken by using simile. In this context the chicken represents silence and secrecy from others. This departs because it shows silence of African Americans, which was the exact opposite of what people were trying to do in the era. This departure is very strange because Hurston is writing this book for the purpose of speaking about African American culture, meanwhile she is creating characters who wish to be silent about themselves because they are African