In the novels Their Eyes Were Watching God and Love Medicine, Hurston and Erdrich (respectively) use the characterization of women to promote the female empowerment and self-realization. Lulu can be seen in Erdrich's work as the stereotypical “evil woman” who cannot find her place; however, through the writing devices presented by Erdrich, Lulu can also be seen as a symbol of female empowerment for her community. Much like Erdrich, Hurston creates a powerful message in her characterization of Janey, who becomes the hope for a future generation of repressed African-American women. Overall, these two authors paint a very striking picture of the power these women possess and the barriers they must overcome to achieve true happiness. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie can be seen portrayed as a typical submissive African American woman. Janie is repressed by the men in her life, who treat her as if she has no voice or opinion. This can be seen in all of her relationships, including her first marriage to Logan Killicks, an older man who Janie's grandmother forces her to marry. This can be seen as the first obstacle placed in front of Janie at an early age. As a wife she is forced to listen to her whims and desires, but is not given the space she needs to grow personally. The nanny, Janie's grandmother, forces her into this cycle because of the experiences she has endured in life. Inside the text we read: “...The nanny was born into slavery and had little choice over her fate. The nanny craves small comforts, like sitting lazily on the porch, and wants her granddaughter to have them along with money and status, regardless of the emotional cost. What the nanny may not have considered is that Janie would have her own ideas of freedom… (Hurston).” Within this section of the text it is clear the extent of the barrier Janie faces. She must not only overcome sexism, but also the consequences of racism, which influence the decisions her grandmother makes for her. It is also clear to see the damage done to Nanny by her oppressors, she wanted those little comforts because her physical needs (safety, shelter) were not being met. On the other side of the coin we have Janie, whose needs are mostly emotional and therefore the nanny cannot relate to her. Janie finds that her personal fulfillment is stifled by the men in her life, such as her second husband, Joe or Jodie Starks. Joe treats Janie as if she lives to worship him and his "many" successes. At one point he states that because he is a "great man", she is a "great woman"; meaning that her only success can be achieved through her husband's (Hurston) achievements. Joe also refuses to let Janie express herself and give opinions in public. This can be seen when Joe states, “…Thanks for all the compliments, but my wife knows nothing about giving speeches. I never married her at all, lak dat. She is a woman and her place is at home (Hurston).” Here the reader can see Joe literally refusing to let his wife speak her mind. This demonstrates the dominance that Joe is trying to exert over Janie, who has now become his slave, so to speak, bound to his will. Reminiscent of the strong-willed Janie, Lulu within Erdrich's Love Medicine also works against the sexism and racism within. his story. Lulu, from the beginning, is described by the novel as an unpleasant woman on the surface. As a young girl she was seen as annoyingIndian girl in boarding school, where she is mistreated for her cultural heritage and tennacedey. She became a woman who wasn't afraid to go after what she wanted and be who she wanted. Lulu pursued whoever she wanted because she understood the value of love and companionship. This can be seen in the line that reads: “...No one ever understood my wild and secret ways. They said Lulu Lamartine was like a cat, she didn't love anyone and only purred to get what she wanted. But that's not true. I was in love with the whole world and everything that lived in its rainy arms (Erdrich).” Lulu was truly free, even though she faced the barriers imposed by society, she chose not to live by those rules. This is where Lulu and Janie differ in their barriers. Lulu is held back by society's moral standards, while Janie is held back by the men in her life; although both women have a voice that is trying to be drowned out. Janie's barrier is a little harder to overcome because she loves these (most) men and is willing to take on more before she breaks. Lulu is generally held back only by those within her community who slander her for her personal choices, which she is able to overcome. Lulu proves to be a very strong and determined woman with Erdrich's Love Medicine. He is able to overcome his difficulties by remaining true to his beliefs and personal goals in life. The main attribute that Lulu possesses is that she wants to be happy, simply put. Her happiness surpasses any stereotype or constraint that may be imposed on her and, therefore, overcomes these obstacles. An example of this can be seen in the proud way he addresses his community about the slander he faces. She responds to her community by saying: "...I will name them all...The fathers...I will point them out to you right here (Erdrich)". By addressing this topic in such a casual and collected way he showed his pride and awareness. Lulu is able to admit the mistakes she has made, yet refuses to let it get her down. This refusal to back down can also be seen when Lulu states, “And so when they tell you I was heartless, a shameless man-hunter, never forget: I loved what I saw. And yes, it's true that I did all the things they say. That's not what gets them. What makes them worse is that I never shed a single tear. I don't mind. It's unnatural. As we all know, a woman should cry (Erdrich).” Within this quote Lulu's power and pride can be seen in her unwillingness to bow to female stereotypes. Lulu looked for love and happiness and often found them in the wrong places, however, she never regretted anything because she loved with all her heart. Lulu can almost be seen as an Aphrodite figure who promotes love and beauty in life. She refuses to be seen as a monster, an "evil woman", someone who is devoid of compassion, because in truth Lulu possesses immense capacities for love, compassion and general empathy. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Janie overcomes her difficulties. in very different ways. For Janie her battles are all internal, she struggles to find her own voice and path in life apart from her husbands. During each of her marriages, Janie struggles to stay afloat and often drowns in her men's needs and desires. However, with each obstacle she faces (the men in her life) she is able to evaluate who she is and what she wants. This is the first step she takes to overcome her personal boundaries which can be seen in the text which reads: “…Janie soon began to feel the impact of astonishment and envy against her sensibilities. The mayor's wife was not just any woman, as she had.