The Portrayal of Strong, Ethnic Females in Literature

Paper Summary:

This paper uses the characters of Janie from "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston and Rigoberta Menchu, from her autobiography, "I, Rigoberta Menchu, An Indian Woman in Guatemala," to discuss the portrayal of strong, ethnic females in literature.

From the Paper:

"The protagonist in Their Eyes decides to thwart conventional thinking and strike out on her own, seeking approval from herself. Janie decides that she is not content with a loveless marriage. She internally feels that the only true way to live is to live a life filled with love. Disenchanted with her state of affairs, she seeks "confirmation of the voice and vision" (Hurston 15) and wants to find the "acknowledged answers" (Hurston 16) to the questions she has inside. The decision to not be satisfied with status quo definitely aids Janie in the exploration of her purpose on earth. Rigoberta too has a decision to make that will transform her life."

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