"Their Eyes Were Watching God" is a novel penned by Zora Neale Hurston. The author conveys a unique African American culture through the use of dialect, setting, and thematic elements. The work partially incorporates dialect to showcase this distinct culture.
Jim appears to believe it's preferable to wait patiently and persuade his owners for freedom. In contrast, the narrator in this narrative thinks that sucking up to the owners is unproductive since that submissive demeanor is what they anticipate and strive for through fear tactics and punishment. The narrator feels that true freedom can only be seized. It's clear that neither can endure their current situation. They possess such dignity that they would rather face punishment than inaction.