Volume : 5, Issue : 9, SEP 2019

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PROTAGONIST IN ZORA NEALE HURSTON'S JONAH'S GOURD VINE

MR. LAXMIKANT KARAL

Abstract

This analysis examines John Buddy Pearson, the protagonist of Zora Neale Hurston’s Jonah’s Gourd Vine, as a complex and multifaceted character who embodies the struggles of human imperfection. Set against the backdrop of rural Black life in the post-Reconstruction South, the novel explores themes of identity, spirituality, community, and personal flaws. John’s dual nature—torn between his spiritual calling as a preacher and his earthly desires—serves as a central tension that drives the narrative. His relationships, particularly with the women in his life, highlight both his vulnerabilities and the strength of those around him. This study also delves into Hurston’s use of Biblical allusions, particularly the metaphor of the gourd vine, to underscore the cyclical nature of John’s rise and fall. Ultimately, this analysis presents John as a tragic yet relatable figure, through whom Hurston critiques societal pressures and celebrates the resilience of Black culture and humanity.

Keywords

IDENTITY, FOLKLORE, RELIGION, AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE, SELF-DISCOVERY.

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References

  1. Boyd, Valerie. Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston. Scribner, 2003.
  2. Campbell, Josie P. "Hurston and the Search for Identity in Jonah's Gourd Vine." African-American Review, vol. 27, no. 1, 1993, pp. 47-50.
  3. Howard, Lillie P. "Spiritual Dichotomies in Hurston’s Jonah's Gourd Vine." Southern Literary Journal, vol. 19, no. 2, 1987, pp. 76-88.
  4. Hurston, Zora Neale. Jonah's Gourd Vine. Harper Perennial, 1990.