Zora Neale Hurston, anthropologist and author, definitely left a unique mark on Harlem Renaissance literature. In her most significant work, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston sends a feminist message about autonomy and remembering one’s experiences; nevertheless, many of her contemporaries who sought change for African Americans criticized her work as minstrel, primitive, and offering no important meaning. Advocates of “the new negro” movement, these critics believed Hurston tailored her work towards white sympathy. I intend to show how Hurston criticizes the established practices, values, beliefs, and systems of the white patriarchal society she occupied during the Harlem Renaissance. More specifically, I will examine how she uses narrative technique, language, symbolism, and other literary tropes to criticize the role of black women under rule of a capitalist society. In her novel and short stories, Hurston blends religious and mythic rhetoric in an attempt to modify the eve figure that women have come to embody under the white patriarchy. Hurston, on the other hand, presents an alternative role for black women whilst criticizing the middle class values and religion (Christianity) of whites. While Hurston’s writing may not contain the overtly political statements of other Harlem Renaissance writers, her work still communicates politically charged messages through more subtle techniques.
I will…
1) investigate more sources on “The New Negro”
2) investigate sources on Hurston’s inspiration for her works such as bibliographic readings.
3) analyze more critical reviews of Hurston’s works.
4) research more sources on some of her short stories
5) further analyze the texts that I will be using, looking for rhetorical elements
6) formulate a clear thesis
7) organize my ideas/thoughts along with my research
8) begin writing
Phase one: After compiling my research, I will dig deeper into the criticism, the texts, and my own ideas. In this phase, I will readjust my ideas and form a clearer argument. Then, I will begin composing my paper.
Phase two: Completing my first draft, I will reread my paper a couple of times to check for clarity, grammar, style, and the effectiveness of my argument. This phase will consist of editing unnecessary and weak sections
Phase three: by this time, I am assuming my group members will have examined my paper; thus, I will take their opinions into consideration, reread my paper, and use my best judgment to make the necessary changes.
Honestly, I believe this essay will take up to two weeks of hard work, which includes research, reading, analyzing, outlining ideas, writing, and editing. This may be overestimating my investment; nevertheless, writing has always been a lengthy process for me and because others will be review my work, I believe this essay will take longer than most.
I am unsure of my total time invested in this project; however, a good hypothesis would be five days of my own work. I usually give myself a couple of days to write a paper because it’s difficult for me to work for hours on end. I tend to have better results when I split up my days with a couple hours of work rather than simply writing the entire paper in one sitting. Aside from writing, I do have other responsibilities (like the rest of my colleagues) that interfere with my writing. While my writing is not nearly as sophisticated as it could be, it’s difficult for me to settle on one draft; thus, I revise and revise again during my writing.