Janie Crawford, a sixteen-year-old girl, has big dreams for her future. She longs for a life filled with love and happiness, just like the flourishing pear tree she often rests under in her small town. However, her journey is filled with unexpected twists and turns, leading her down paths she never could have imagined. Zora Neale Hurston's acclaimed novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), tells the poignant story of Janie, an African American woman who must navigate through a world full of challenges and obstacles to find her true strength.As the story opens, Janie returns to her hometown after years of being away. The townspeople are curious about her mysterious absence, but the mature and confident forty-year-old Janie is not one to be underestimated. She surprises everyone with her appearance, dressed in overalls with long hair, radiating strength and self-assurance. She reconnects with her old friend Phoeby and begins to share the events that took place during her absence.Janie was raised by her grandmother, Nanny, who had been a slave and was raped by her master. Nanny had a daughter, Leafy, who was also a victim of rape and gave birth to Janie before disappearing. Fearing for Janie's safety, Nanny decided to protect her by arranging a marriage to someone of higher social standing.At the tender age of sixteen, Janie is forced into a loveless marriage with Logan Killicks, an older man with a farm and a large piece of land. Janie finds him unappealing and dull, and their marriage is anything but happy. She yearns for true love, but Logan only sees her as a servant, making her work on the farm and giving her a mule as a token of his love.During Logan's absence, Janie meets Joe Starks, a confident and charismatic young man who sweeps her off her feet and convinces her to leave with him to start a new life in the all-black town of Eatonville. Joe becomes the town's mayor and wants Janie to be nothing but his wife, controlling every aspect of her life. He even belittles her in front of others and denies her the simple pleasure of playing checkers. Despite their twenty-year marriage, Janie feels suffocated and trapped under Joe's controlling ways.After Joe's death, Janie meets Vergible Woods, also known as Tea Cake, a lively and charming man twelve years her junior. They fall in love and marry, despite the disapproval of the townspeople who believe Tea Cake is only after Janie's money. Their love is not perfect, and they face struggles and arguments, but Tea Cake is the first man who truly loves and understands Janie.Their happiness is short-lived when a devastating hurricane hits their home in the Everglades. While trying to save Janie from drowning, Tea Cake is bitten by a rabid dog and contracts the disease. He becomes violent, and Janie is forced to shoot him in self-defense, leaving her charged with murder. But thanks to her powerful testimony, she is found not guilty and returns to her old home in Eatonville, where she once felt trapped but now finds peace and freedom.Janie's story inspires her friend Phoeby, who decides to appreciate her own marriage more after hearing about Janie's experiences. Janie returns to the home built by her controlling second husband, but this time as a strong and independent woman, at peace with her past and ready to face whatever challenges the future may bring.The hurricane depicted in Their Eyes Were Watching God was inspired by the 1928 Lake Okeechobee Hurricane, one of the deadliest storms in US history that claimed the lives of approximately 2,500 people. This Category 5 hurricane ravaged through Puerto Rico and Florida, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.The author of Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston, was an African American writer, folklorist, and anthropologist who lived from 1891 to 1960. Born and raised in Eatonville, Florida, an all-black town where her father served as mayor, Hurston drew inspiration from her surroundings and her own experiences. Like the protagonist in her novel, Hurston was a strong and resilient woman who was married three times. She has cited a passionate relationship with a younger man as the basis for the character of Tea Cake in her novel, but their relationship could not survive due to his demand for her to give up her work.
Their Eyes Were Watching God, a masterpiece by Zora Neale Hurston, was completed in just seven weeks. This powerful novel, set in the 1920s and 1930s, explores the impact of slavery's lasting legacy on society and the black community's struggles during the Harlem Renaissance. Hurston stays true to the dialect and hardships of this time period, while also delivering a message of self-discovery and liberation.
Upon its release in 1937, Their Eyes Were Watching God received mixed reviews and eventually faded into obscurity. It wasn't until Pulitzer Prize winner Alice Walker published an article called "In Search of Zora Neale Hurston" in 1975 that interest in Hurston's work was reignited. Over the years, she has influenced numerous writers, including Maya Angelou, Zadie Smith, and Toni Morrison. In 2005, Oprah Winfrey produced a movie adaptation of the novel, featuring Halle Berry as the protagonist, Janie.
The characters in Their Eyes Were Watching God are deeply affected by their surroundings and cultural norms. In the novel, characters often engage in "porch sitting," a popular leisure activity in the United States that involves sitting on the front porch and gossiping with neighbors.
Janie's relationships with different people and nature play a significant role in her journey towards self-discovery. As she navigates through love and relationships, she also learns about freedom and finding her voice. The novel also explores the theme of masculinity vs. femininity and the relationship between humanity and nature and God.
The storyline in Their Eyes Were Watching God revolves around Janie's search for true love and how her relationships shape her growth and understanding of self. Each relationship brings forth a different type of love, with a unique influence on Janie's desires and independence. Janie's third husband, Tea Cake, represents the fulfillment of her journey towards self-discovery and liberation from societal expectations.
Language is a prominent theme in the novel, highlighting Hurston's mastery in capturing the southern African American dialect. Janie's struggle to find her voice and be heard is a reflection of the power dynamics in society. Her grandmother, Nanny, exerts tough love and forces her into a loveless marriage, while her second husband, Joe Starks, stifles her true identity in a relationship based on power and control.
Their Eyes Were Watching God remains a poignant and timeless literary masterpiece, showcasing the journey of a woman towards self-discovery and liberation. Hurston's powerful message of finding one's voice and asserting power and independence still resonates today, making this novel a must-read for all.
Janie finds herself caught between societal expectations and her own yearning for independence and self-expression in Their Eyes Were Watching God. Nanny's belief that black women are nothing but "mules" further stifles Janie's desire to break free from traditional gender roles.
Janie's three marriages expose her to varying forms of power dynamics. Her second husband, Joe Starks, embodies traditional masculinity, constantly seeking dominance over Janie. He belittles and physically abuses her when she tries to assert herself, leaving her feeling trapped and silenced. Only after his death does Janie find the courage to claim her own voice and break free from his control.
The novel explores the theme of humanity versus nature, seen from the beginning as Janie admires a blooming pear tree and its interaction with bees, symbolizing her own sexual awakening and desire for passion. Nature is also represented through the recurring symbol of the horizon, which Janie sees as a source of wonder and fulfillment. The hurricane symbolizes the challenges Janie faces on her journey of self-discovery, while the mule represents the suppression and mistreatment of black women.
Janie's marriage to Joe is akin to being caged and domesticated. Her long hair, a symbol of her power, sexuality and individuality, sets her apart from other black women, but when her neighbor praises her Caucasian features, it perpetuates the damaging concept of racial superiority.
The novel delves into the traditional gender roles of men as providers and leaders, and women as submissive and obedient. Janie's relationship with Joe is a prime example, stifling her sense of self until she is able to reclaim her power and challenge these expectations.
"Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others, they sail forever on the same horizon, never reaching their destination until the Watcher gives up on his dreams, defeated by time." This quote highlights the differing desires and dreams of men and women, with men's being transient while women's remain constant. Hurston uses elements of nature to reveal paradoxical truths, such as "Love is lak de sea... it takes its shape from the shore it meets."
In the midst of the Harlem Renaissance, author Zora Neale Hurston penned her coming-of-age novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. Through the story of Janie Crawford, an African American woman living in Eatonville, Florida, Hurston explores the complex and ever-changing themes of love, identity, speech, power, femininity, freedom, and humanity's connection to nature. This timeless and captivating tale continues to resonate with readers, showcasing the journey of self-discovery and strength in the face of adversity.
Zora Neale Hurston, born in 1891 and passing in 1960, set out to tell the story of black women finding themselves through their relationships. She also aimed to capture the intensity of past loves and provide a vivid depiction of her hometown, Eatonville.
Their Eyes Were Watching God was written in 1936 and published in 1937. Hurston completed the entire novel during a seven-week trip to Haiti, following a difficult breakup.
Aside from its powerful themes and relatable character growth, the novel also incorporates symbolic elements to enhance the storytelling. Janie's hair, for instance, symbolizes her individuality, strength, and sensuality. The pear tree represents her journey into adulthood and her yearning for passion and beauty in her personal life. The horizon symbolizes the unknown and mysterious aspects of life that Janie seeks to uncover. The hurricane serves as a reminder of the harsh realities of the world, while the mule represents suppression, mistreatment, and undervaluing.
