The alpha female Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay Zora Neale Hurston's 1937 novel Their Eyes Were Watching God shows Southern black women not as weak, submissive slaves to their husbands, but rather, Eyes traces Janie's development as an independent black woman. Outliving her three husbands over the course of adolescence into adulthood, she establishes her role in the community. Fundamental differences between men and women govern her relationship with these men; but regardless, he triumphs over them all. Taking strength from Logan, Jody, and Tea Cake, Janie, in effect, becomes the alpha male. In her first marriage to Logan Killicks, Janie is too young and inexperienced to realize the complexities of male and female communication. Attracted by the fantasy of the "dust-laden bee sinking into the sanctuary of a flower", she thinks that marriages are as simple a unification of any man with any woman as any bee with any flower. Directed by her grandmother, Janie marries Logan, a man who, while he certainly deserves some credit for his self-sustaining farm, definitely doesn't have the power to be the alpha male. Instead, he attempts to compensate for his lack of physical attractiveness with Janie, the most desirable woman. However, she clearly sees past his facade and leaves him in his self-deluded world living on his farm on the fringes of society. By leaving him, Janie gains a better sense of love; and that to obtain it she must achieve it alone. Joe Starks, better known as Jody, draws his power from those he tramples on his way to the top. Although Jody originally seems like "a bee to her bloom" who would have "flower dust and spring sprinkled over everything", her charm and magic immediately fade with their marriage. Her first impression of him was that of an alpha male, sharply dressed and well-mannered; however, he soon realizes that his own insecurities lead him to lash out at others. According to Tannen's book You Just Don't Understand, Jody lives "as an individual in a hierarchical social order in which [he is] one up or one down" compared to the people of Eatonville. In his struggle to reach the top, he flaunts Janie as his prized possession and a representation of his power. However, Jody becomes overly flashy and ostentatious with his gold cup which, according to Gladwell's article Listening to Khakis, is "a dandy" or overly "effeminate". In this way he loses his virility and his rank in the male hierarchical social order. In essence, she becomes the woman, concerned with fashion and overly confident. For years, Jody silences Janie and forces her to wear her hair up to hide her budding sexuality. Even towards the end of his life, when his power over the citizens falters, he tries to cling to the person over whom he thinks he has overwhelming influence. As a defeated wolf fighting her idolized companion's other wolves, Jody tries to keep her out of the public's reach. Instead, he wants it visible enough to show off; but far away so that men like Hicks would "withdraw and quickly lose interest." The final confrontation between him and Janie ultimately destroys him by neutering the leadership he loves. Her attack not only humiliates his rank, but also robs him "of his illusion of irresistible virility which all men prize" as their undeniable privilege. No matter how low a man's position may be, he will still be a man. In Jody's case, Janie takes this away from him too. By killing him, Janie becomes the town's alpha male. However, Jody's influence on her still binds her to,.