Essay Database

How are the works of two completely different writers, “Barn Burning” by a white, male with an aristocratic background, and Their Eyes Were Watching God by a black, female with a humble background, so similar? The answer lies in the notion that both William Faulkner and Zora Neale Hurston create works that thrive on the discord that is inherent to humanity; in fact, their literary force comes from the fact that they are both well …

…characters of Sarty and Janie are masterfully portrayed by William Faulkner and Zora Neale Hurston. Both authors capture the elements that matter most to the human heart: social and racial conflict, maturation, and determination. It is the presence of these eternal staples of the human condition that create a forever endearing quality to both works. Through these realistic characters and honest themes southern writing shines through at its best, and human nature at its truest.