Journal 6-Death

"Death, that strange being with the huge square toes who lived way in the West.  The great one who lived in the straight house like a platform without sides to it, and without a roof.  What need has Death for a cover, and what winds can blow against him?  He stands in his high house that overlooks the world.  Stands watchful and motionless all day with his sword drawn back, waiting for the messenger to bid him come.  Been standing there before there was a where or a when or a then.  She was liable to find a feather from his wings lying in her yard any day now.  She was sad and afraid too.  Poor Jody!  He ought not to have to wrassle in there by himself.  She sent Sam in to suggest a visit, but Jody said No.  These medical doctors wuz all right with the Godly sick, but they didn't know a thing about a case like his.  He’d be all right just as soon as the two-headed man found what had been buried against him.  He wasn’t going to die at all.  That was what he thought.  But Sam told her different, so she knew.  And then if he hadn’t, the next morning she was bound to know, for people began to gather in the big yard under the palm and china-berry trees.  People who would not have dared to foot the place before crept in and did not come to the house.  Just squatted under the trees and waited.  Rumor, that wingless bird, had shadowed over the town.”

• Personification of Death.  Creates the sense that death is a person with a mind of his own.
• Repeats the motif of power.  This reinforces the idea that humans are not in power and they do not control worldly affairs.
• Repeats the motif of wind.  This has basically the same effect as the mention of power, as the wind is a symbol of power over people on Earth.
• Capitalizes the word no.  Emphasizes Jody's decision and his aggressiveness, even on his deathbed.
• Uses the phrase "two-headed man", which raises the question, who is the two-headed man, death or Jody or someone else?
• Many words describe time.  Time is a motif throughout the novel, and using it in a passage about death emphasizes how little time we have on Earth, and the inevitability of death.
• Lots of words about trees and nature.  Nature is a repeated idea throughout the novel.  Its use in this passage brings out the idea that death is natural and humans cannot control it.
• Uses words to create a sense of solidarity.  The words Hurston chose to describe death make it seem strong and immovable, reinforcing the idea that death is inevitable.
• Personification of rumor.  This expresses Hurston's idea that rumors have a life of their own.
• Use of the word "people" is very vague.  This creates the effect of anonymity, and makes it seem like it doesn't really matter who the people are.
• Hurston uses a little bit of dialect in this passage.  The use of dialect emphasizes Janie's emotions and how strong they are.