Journal 3
5 quotes, 2 analyzed.
Let's go...

****"Folkes, de sun is goin' down. De Sun-maker brings it up in de mornin', and de Sun-maker sends it tuh bed at nigh. us poor weak humans can't do nothin' tuh hurry it up nor to slow it down. All we can do, if we want any light after deh settin' or befo' de risin', is tuh make some light ourselves. So dat's how come lamps was made. Dis evenin' we'se all assembled heah tuh light our dyin' day. De first street lapm in uh colored town. Life yo' eyes and gaze on it. And when Ah tough de match tuh dat lampwick let de light penetrate inside of yuh, and let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Brother Davis, lead us in a word uh prayer. Ask uh blessin' on dis town in uh most particular manner." (Hurston, 45).

****She talks about light, creating light on your own when the Sun-maker isn't making the light. This alludes to the idea that women are the ones who don't wait for God to provide for them. This street lamp, the first in a colored town, represents a lot of things. Not only is it representing them making light for themselves, but also a symbol for the blacks becoming more and more equal in the US. Also, like the porch, they assemble around it, like unity. She also says not "look upon it" but "lift yo' eyes and gaze on it" which ties to the title. God is assumed to be up in the sky, so if their eyes are watching God the image is them looking into the sky. The lamp - the light from the lamp - is like the light from God to them. No more hiding in the shadows at night, he is now always watching. Their eyes are watching God, but God's eyes are watching them as well.

"There was something about Joe Starks that cowed the town. It was not because of physical fear. He was no fist fighter. His bulk was not even imposing as men go. Neither was it because he was more literate than the rest. Something else made men give way before him. He had a bow-down command in his face, and every step he took made the thing more tangible." (Hurston, 47).

****"Yeah, but none uh all dis you see and you'se settin' on wasn't here neither, when he come. Give de devil his due." (Hurston, 49)

****Another biblical reference. The point made is also good, kind of tying to the religion thing. They watch God, but this white man is the devil. The devil made the town they live in, so without him they'd be nowhere. But he makes profit off of their labor. So in a way that's like the biblical devil, where without sin there is no way to judge the virtues. The devil helped make the world we live in, and profits off of it because humans give in to temptation. It may be a stretch, but it seems to work here.

"Speakin' of winds, he's de wind and we'se de grass. We bend which ever way he blows," Sam Watson agreed, " but at dat us needs him. De town wouldn't be nothin' if it wasn't for him. He can't help bein' sorta bossy. Some folks needs thrones,and ruling-chairs and crowns tuh make they influence felt. He don't. He's got uh throne in de seat of his pants."

"The town had a basketful of feelings good and bad about Joe's positions and possessions, but none had the temerity to challenge him. They bowed down to him rather, because he was all of these things, and then again he was all of these things because the town bowed down."

...paradox?