Journal #6

Death, that strange being with the huge square toes who lived way in the West. The great one who lived in the straight house like a platform without sides to it, and without a roof. What need has Death for a cover, and what winds can blow against him? He stands in his high house that overlooks the world. Stands watchful and motionless all day with his sword drawn back, waiting for the messenger to bid him come. Been standing there before there was a where or a when or a then. She was liable to find a feather from his wings lying in her yard any day now. She was sad and afraid too. Poor Jody! He ought not to have to wrassle in there by himself. She sent Sam in to suggest a visit, but Jody said No. These medical doctors wuz all right with the Godly sick, but they didn't know a thing about a case like his. He'd be all right just as soon as the two-headed man found what had been buried against him. He wasn't going to die at all. That was what he thought. But Sam told her different, so she knew. And then if he hadn't, the next morning she was bound to know, for people began to gather in the big yard under the palm and china-berry trees. People who would not have dared to foot the place before crept in and did not come to the house. Just squatted under the trees and waited. Rumor, the wingless bird, had shadowed over the town. (84)

Decision:

-Zora hurston is constintly using the trees to symbolize something. I think she could be trying to show that the tree's can symbolize something dying off. Like seasons go the leaves get brighter, turn yellow/orange and than slowly die off. Just like a persons life and Hurston could be trying to say that since she replaced her husband so fast after he died its like the leaves, dying off and coming back around.

Decision:

-Hurston Personifies death as a character, as a being. Not just a natural cause that happens to everyone. Hurston shows that Janie can see death, as a "Wingless bird" it is helpless, no one can save it because it's wings cannot grow back.

Decision:

-Hurston also tells that death has been here since there was no when, where, or then. This is telling that death has been around forever and death cannot be killed itself.

Decision:

- Hurston calls death a him or he. This could be calling death god, as a higher power. hence the "Been standing there before there was a where or a when or a then."

Decision:

- Hurston uses a motif as death "standing". This could symbolize that death has a character and can move around standing and watching everyone til their moment of death comes, then death is not motionless.