After reading merely the first chapter of the novel, Zora Neale Hurston’s writing techniques, language, and ability to use dialect have made an immediate impression on me. One line that for some eluding reason grabbed my attention was, “Pearl Stone opened her mouth and laughed real hard because she didn’t know what else to do. She fell all over Mrs. Sumpkins while she laughed. Mrs. Sumpkins snorted violently and sucked her teeth (3).” At this point Janie has just walked by the group of women silently without acknowledging their existence. Pearl Stone uncomfortably laughs after this and the imagery of the scene of Mrs. Sumpkins laughing violently is just something only an amazing writer could get me to visualize. Hurtson uses well planned words and phrases to get her points across in a visual manner so the reader can interact more with the novel. Another line in chapter one that caught my attention was, “‘Don’t keer what it was, she could stop and say a few words with us. She act like we done done something to her,’ Pearl Stone complained. ‘She de one been doin’ wrong (3).’” In this quote Zora shows an amazing use of dialect to get the reader to visualize the scene and listen to the speaker as if they were there. Zora’s use of dialect transcends that of any other writer I have ever read, and I was deeply moved by her writing style and technique. I can not wait to read further on in the novel to explore more of Zora’s meritorious work.
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