Jane Austen (December 16, 1775 - July 18, 1817) was an English novelist. Her work is considered part of the Western canon. Her ability to look deeply into women's lives and present them in such wonderful balance of form and irony had put her in the ranks of the literary greats of her time. She was considered the most notable and influential novelists of her time although her works then did not receive as warm a reception as in our times. Her literary endeavors did not achieve immense popularity during her lifetime.
Zora Neale Hurston (January 7, 1891-January 28, 1960) was an African-Americanfolklorist. She wrote the critically-acclaimed Harlem Renaissance but was best remembered for her work Their Eyes Were Watching God.
Both authors were better-educated than most girls during their time. Austen entered Reading Ladies boarding school in the Abbey gatehouse in Reading, Berkshire. Hurston took undergraduate studies at Howard University then transferred to Barnard College where she finished a degree B.A. in anthropology in 1928.
Despite a century that gulfed between them, Jane Austen and Zora Neale Hurston are authors that share similar characteristics and themes in their novels.
In consonance with the custom for female authors during her time, Jane Austen was forced to publish her works anonymously. Austen's works revolved around love stories. During her time the Romantic movement of literature in England was in full bloom. But Austen's writings were far from being romantic. Romanticism often borders
on passion. Austen, however, extolled love tempered with reason in her novels. She would most likely depict who people practiced moderation in love as having more chances of success than those who went for it at all costs.
In similar grain, we find American author Zora Neale Hurston's novels reflecting the same values. Moderation is the key she preached. The characters she wrote were not subject to violent or overly emotions. As a matter of fact, anyone could relate to them.
Austen tackled social issues during her time. She delved on issues such as the dilemma of single genteel English women in the early 1800s. During this time, inheritance law and custom favored the male heirs. The bulk of the family's fortune often went to them, leaving the unmarried women to cope on their own. Austen often depicted socially perceptive comedies on manners in her books. These are particularly true in her work Emma where critics often cited it for perfection of form.
The main plot of both authors' stories center on the lives of women. Take for instance, Hurston's book Their Eyes Were Watching God, we findJanie the main protagonist living a sheltered existence. Her grandmother, who was an ex-slave, did not want Janie to experience the harshness in the world. She brought up Janie in a wealthy environment. As a natural consequence, she revolved around similarly well-to-do black social circle. Her first husband was Logan who wasn't able to provide her with financial stability. She was forced to find a job to augment their meager income. As tough times threatened, Janie left him. Her second husband was Jody, a mayor. Jody
brought her to the all black city called Eatonville. The lifestyles of the people in Eatonville were similar to those of the white people. Her husband, Jody, being the town's steward, implemented all the rules in the town. As a consequence, the town prospered. Jody, in turn, became financially stable. Somehow, despite her obvious wealth, Janie did not find the happiness she sought. Years rolled by and Jody died. Janie went to the Everglades with Tea Cake and found work in the fields where she was finally able to find true happiness.
Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, which is one of her most popular books, featured two sisters Marianne and Ellinor. Marianne, who, being emotional was acquainted with passionate feelings such as love at first sight. She expressed openly ardent emotions. She admired the grotesque "picturesque". And she represented Austen's idea of "sensibility". Elinor, the sister, was the one blessed with more "sense" as shown by her rational moderation when it came to love. Despite her outlook she still suffered from disappointments brought about by love now and then.
Jane Austen and Zora Neale Hurston provide a strong voice for the issue of feminism in literature. Jane Austen, due to the constraints of her times, was forced to hide her gender and keeping her identity anonymous in order to promote feminist literature. Zora Neale Hurston, on the other hand, continued and promoted the feminist literature movement by her writings. The desired end Zora Neal Hurston had strived though, being a black person herself, was to promote freedom for black people. The issue of Black Liberation Movement, around 1910, was foremost in her times. Their Eyes Were
