Sunday, October 13, 2019
Taking a Chance in Hurstonââ¬â¢s Novels, Their Eyes Were Watching God and Seraph on the Suwanee :: Their Eyes Watching God Seraph Suwanee
Taking a Chance in Hurstonââ¬â¢s Novels, Their Eyes Were Watching God and Seraph on the Suwanee ââ¬Å"ââ¬ËAll right then, you name somethinââ¬â¢ and weââ¬â¢ll do it. We kin give it uh poor manââ¬â¢s trial anyhow.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"ââ¬ËAnyhow Ah done got rested up and de bed bugs is done got too bold round heah. Ah didnââ¬â¢t notice when mah rest wuz broke. Ahââ¬â¢m goinââ¬â¢ out and look around and see whut we kin do. Ahââ¬â¢ll give anything uh common trial.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ pp. 168-69; Their Eyes Were Watching God ââ¬Å"Arvay woke up next morning with hope and determination. Nothing beats trial but a failure, Arvay decided. She might not win Jim back, but she meant to give it a poor manââ¬â¢s trial. That is the best that she could do. If she failed, it was not going to be because she never tried.â⬠p. 316; Seraph on the Suwanee The first passage shows no sign of weakness or unsureness; there are only bold declarations of fact. Janie tells Tea Cake to ââ¬Å"name somethinââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ and they would be capable of doing it (168). Tea Cake shares the same attitude with Janie, telling her that he is rested and that he is ââ¬Å"goinââ¬â¢ outâ⬠too ââ¬Å"look aroundâ⬠for something for them to do (168-9). The indecision lies not with the two of them but instead with the outside world. The use of active, present-tense verbs makes the passage vibrant and lifelike. It is clear to the reader from this passage that the couple is happy and confident in themselves; they will give most anything ââ¬Å"a poor manââ¬â¢s trialâ⬠(168). They are not worried about their future, and the impression is that they ââ¬Å"kin doâ⬠practically anything and still be happy (169). In the second passage, there is sureness tainted with uncertainty. Arvay has ââ¬Å"hope and determinationâ⬠to accomplish her goal, but she is unsure about its outcome (316). She thinks that ââ¬Å"she might notâ⬠regain her status with her husband (316). She is not positive that Jim will take her back. Because she is willing ââ¬Å"to give it a poor manââ¬â¢s trial,â⬠the extent of her resolve is shown (316). However, her lack of confidence shows in the next sentence, where she admits that there is a possibility for failure. Arvay has resolved not to lose Jim ââ¬Å"because she never triedâ⬠(316). While the sentences are active in this passage, the past tense lends them an air of resignedness and doubt.
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