Nature Themes in Hurston’s Novels, Their Eyes Were...

Nature Themes in Hurston’s Novels, Their Eyes Were Watching God and Seraph on the Suwanee Nature themes resound throughout Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God and Seraph on the Suwanee. Perhaps two of the most notable instances where the lush Florida scenery augments the novels’ plot lines are the â€Å"tree scenes†, in which Janie kisses Johnny Taylor beneath the pear tree in Their Eyes Were Watching God (p. 10-12) and Arvey loses her virginity to Jim beneath the mulberry tree in Seraph on the Suwanee (p. 37 pp. 50-53). Close readings of the two passages reveal sexually charged language. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, the pear tree’s â€Å"barren brown stems† and the â€Å"snowy virginity of bloom† are referenced, possibly emphasizing†¦show more content†¦In Janie’s revelation about her sexuality, she longs â€Å"to be a pear tree—any tree in bloom!† This metaphor for Janie’s youth and vitality suggest she is in the spring of her life, with her â€Å"glossy leaves† and â€Å"bursting buds† and struggling to make sense of the â€Å"marriage† that is buzzing through the air with bees. Thus in this scene, Janie crosses the threshold from childhood to adulthood, a passage made complete by her hasty marriage to Logan Killicks, a man far beyond the tumultuous â€Å"spring† of youth that Janie is in the midst of in this passage. The passages with the mulberry tree in Seraph on the Suwanee focus more on a sense of rebirth. When Arvey first takes Jim to the mulberry tree, it is because she wants a â€Å"cleansing of her sacred place† from her old feelings for Carl. The images of the new mulberries growing perpetuate this theme of rebirth in this scene. The word â€Å"green† also repeats itself, implying a sense of youth. This is not so much maturation for Arvey (as it was for Janie) as it is a rebirth, a changing of her ways as well as an introduction into sexuality. The actual scene where Arvey loses her virginity is rife with violent images; the tearing have cloth, the gritting of teeth, juxtaposed against images of passion. It is ironic that this should occur in her â€Å"green temple of peace,† but at the same time, Arvey is essentially finally crossing the bridge