We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy

“Their Eyes Were Watching God” Commentary

essay
The whole doc is available only for registered users

A limited time offer! Get a custom sample essay written according to your requirements urgent 3h delivery guaranteed

Order Now

In “Their Eyes Are Watching God”, Zora Neale Hurston uses figurative language in the passage on pages 158-159 to foreshadow events to come as well as add life to the story. Metaphors, similes, and personification are used together collaboratively to create a specific mood and image to represent the theme of this passage with still leaving room for the true meaning which is to be revealed later on in the story.

Hurston’s use of personification and metaphors together create a mysterious gloomy mood. In the line “drifting mists gathered in the west…to arm them selves with thunders to march forth against the world…mounting, sinking, darking” on page 158, the mists are being personified and this gives an image of power from the mists arming themselves and marching against the world. Night is also personified on page 158 in the line “Night was striding across nothingness with the whole round world in his hands”, because night is not a living figure and cannot hold the world. A metaphor is also used from comparing nothingness to the whole world. Throughout the entire passage, the storm is being brought to life and described in a way to show its potential harmful effects on the characters and their surroundings.

In this passage, similes are used to represent the power of the storm. In the lines “It woke up old Okechobee and the monster began to roll in his bed. Began to roll and complain like a peevish world on a grumble” (pg. 158) Hurston compares the storm to a complaining monster, showing its power and that it is capable of causing harm to those around it. This line also personified the storm from its description of waking up Okechobee, a body of water, which cannot sleep.

To conclude, Hurston’s use of figurative language throughout this passage emphasize the storm and its control over the characters. Her use of similes and personification create images for the reader to imagine the power, gloominess, and mysteriousness of this storm. The great descriptions and foreshadowing of the storm brace the reader for what is to come in the story.

Related Topics

We can write a custom essay

According to Your Specific Requirements

Order an essay
icon
300+
Materials Daily
icon
100,000+ Subjects
2000+ Topics
icon
Free Plagiarism
Checker
icon
All Materials
are Cataloged Well

Sorry, but copying text is forbidden on this website. If you need this or any other sample, we can send it to you via email.

By clicking "SEND", you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. We'll occasionally send you account related and promo emails.
Sorry, but only registered users have full access

How about getting this access
immediately?

Your Answer Is Very Helpful For Us
Thank You A Lot!

logo

Emma Taylor

online

Hi there!
Would you like to get such a paper?
How about getting a customized one?

Can't find What you were Looking for?

Get access to our huge, continuously updated knowledge base

The next update will be in:
14 : 59 : 59