Eyes Journal 2

Passage from page 39, first paragraph to the end of the fourth paragraph.

Hurston uses juxtaposition to display a different point of view to the typical stereotype that whites used to define African Americans.  She means to show a different approach to african american lifestyle that maybe most of the white population was not used to.  When reading the book they may just be persuaded to stand by their opinion even more, just by the way that the people talk and the way that they interact.  But when you look in between the lines a little bit more, you can see the contrast between the dialect and the narration.  Doing this allows you to see a bit into the mind of the characters and see that most of the book is being narrated by Janie, and she does not seem at all like the person that is talking like an uneducated, informal southerner.

Hurston uses the symbol of the post office and the newly purchased land to symbolize the progress of the town.  She does this to let the reader know that this little town is not just some run down place, and that it is in fact, capable of progress.  Although this is a great step for them, some of the citizens believe that the town was better as it was before, or are not ready for change.  "It troubled him to get used to the world one way and then suddenly have it turn different"(39).  

At the very end of the passage, Hurston uses the quote "Specks to keep on waitin' till hell freeze over"(39). The use of a hyperbole in this passage gives the reader a sense of closure.  This quote allows the reader to examine the two speakers, and it gives them a chance to see if one of them seems right or not.  The quote creates a sort of foreshadowing, because you can expect that because of all the towns recent success, that they will be able to do even more in the future.  Hurston does this to, again, recognize the progress of the town, and not only that, but to make the reader feel better about the events taking place.

The tone of this passage seems like it is a mix between optimistic and pessimistic.

The mood of the passage is contemplative, because it gets you to think what may happen.

Hurston uses these techniques to provide a different view point to the stereotype of african americans and to show that they are not all what they seem on the outside.