Journal 2

How does the setting affect the text, atmosphere, characterization, motivation...?

The text in Their Eyes Were Watching God is especially affected by the setting. Because they are in the South, the dialogue in the book is in Southern dialect. The atmosphere is also hugely affected. The main characters in the story are African-American, so the South is a controversial setting for the story at the time period in which the story was written. One of the characters mentioned, Nanny, talks about her experience in slavery in the South and all of her horrible experiences with discrimination and mistreatment.
The characters are shaped a lot by the environment where they grow up. Having grown up in slavery, Nanny especially wants to make sure that her granddaughter, Janie, is safe and protected because of her own life experiences. That is essentially the only thing she wants before she dies so that she can feel good that her family is safe.
Nanny is very concerned for Janie's safety. Because they live in the South (specifically in Florida) where there is so much potential for violence against African-Americans, the setting motivates Nanny to try and find Janie a husband. She wants Janie to have a husband so that she will have someone who can protect her, even when Nanny passes away. She also wants Janie to have a stable roof over her head. Janie having a husband gives Nanny the peace of mind she needs.