Taking a Chance in Hurston’s Novels, Their Eyes Were Watching God and Seraph on the Suwanee :: Their Eyes Watching God Seraph Suwanee

Taking a Chance in Hurstons Novels, Their eye Were Watching God and Seraph on the Suwanee only right then, you name somethin and well do it. We kin give it uh short(p) mans trial anyhow.Anyhow Ah make got rested up and de bed bugs is done got too bold round heah. Ah didnt notice when mah rest wuz broke. Ahm goin out and look around and see whut we kin do. Ahll give anything uh common trial.pp. 168-69 Their Eyes Were Watching God Arvay woke up next morning with hope and determination. Nothing beats trial yet a failure, Arvay decided. She might not win Jim back, but she meant to give it a poor mans trial. That is the best that she could do. If she failed, it was not going to be because she never tried.p. 316 Seraph on the Suwanee The first passage shows no quality of weakness or unsureness there are only bold declarations of fact. Janie tells Tea Cake to name somethin and they would be capable of doing it (168). Tea Cake shares the same posture with Janie, telling her that he is re sted and that he is goin out too look around for something for them to do (168-9). The indecision lies not with the two of them but instead with the remote 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 a poor mans trial (168). They are not worried about their future, and the impression is that they kin do practically anything and still be happy (169).In the second passage, there is sureness tainted with uncertainty. Arvay has hope and determination to accomplish her goal, but she is unsure about its outcome (316). She thinks that she might not regain her berth with her husband (316). She is not positive that Jim will take her back. Because she is willing to give it a poor mans trial, the extent of her resolve is shown (316). However, her lack of reliance shows in the next sentence, where she admits that there is a po ssibility for failure. Arvay has resolved not to lose Jim because she never tried (316). While the sentences are active in this passage, the past tense tense lends them an air of resignedness and doubt.