Discourse on Sexuality in the Works of Zora Neale Hurston

Bc. Jan Beneš

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Diplomová práce se zabývá tématem sexuality afro-amerických žen v literárních dílech Zory Neale Hurstonové. Práce nastiňuje kontext diskurzu o sexualitě černošských žen coby nadměrně sexuálních jedinců. Na základě tohoto kontextu práce analyzuje čtyři texty: „Sweat,“ Color Struck, Their Eyes Were Watching God a Seraph on the Suwanee. Hypotézou práce přitom je, že autorka transformuje stereotypní zobrazování černoškých žen nejen v literatuře na vyobrazení černošek coby komplexních postav, jejichž sexualita se stává důležitou zbraní v boji proti mužskému útlaku. Namísto tradičního diskurzu, jenž hovořil o černoškách coby o mulách, tj. zvířatech pro práci na poli a na plození dalších zvířat, Hurstonová tyto ženy zobrazuje jako silné postavy, jež se postupně stávají vládkyněmi svého osudu.

Abstract:

The thesis deals with the theme of sexuality in four works by Zora Neale Hurston. It is argued here that Hurston transforms stereotypical imagery of black women as overtly sexual beings into images of black women as using their sexuality as weapons in their liberation from oppression by men. Hurston portrays black women as masters of their fates as opposed to previous representations of black women as beats of burden, as mere breeding machines. The thesis draws on secondary sources to provide context of the mainstream discourse surrounding the black female body – it points out the stereotypical imagery of black women in sexological, medical, and popular discourse which was projected into literary art as well. The thesis then uses this contextual framework for textual analysis of four Hurston’s works: “Sweat,” Color Struck, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and Seraph on the Suwanee. In analyzing the four texts, the thesis focuses on Hurston’s representations of sexuality, in particular on the process in which the author associates its main female characters and their bodies with the landscape of the South and lets them lay claim to this history-burdened space. Also, Hurston extends the portrayal of black women as mules, as animals used for hard work and reproduction of other animals, into a metaphor of black women empowerment through standing up to their masters.

Keywords

Zora Neale Hurston, sexuality, sexualita, discourse, diskurz, stereotypical representation, stereotypní zobrazení

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 2. 5. 2011

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 13. 6. 2011
• Supervisor: Mgr. et Mgr. Kateřina Prajznerová, M.A.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Arts

Master programme / field:
Philology / English Language and Literature