Their Eyes Were Watching God Analysis

Hurston harnesses juxtaposition to distinguish between the situations of white folk and black folk experiences, as the differences between the two display Janie’s personal growth even more. After the failures between Logan and Janie’s marriage, Janie was ready to embark on new adventures independently. Janie now realizes she wants to find true love instead a forced love that follows how her grandmother’s outdated beliefs. When Janie was free of her abuser, the transition in her life was expressed by, “She knew now that marriage did not make love. Janie's first dream was dead, so she became a woman,” indicating the mental development of maturity in Janie (25).

Richard Wright and Alain Locke’s critique on Zora Neale Hurston’s novel Their Eyes Were Watching God reveal the common notion held by many of the time, and still today, that there is a right and wrong way for a black person to talk and to act. Wright’s point of view of clearly racially charged and coming from a place of ignorance and intolerance. While, Locke’s point is simply due to a lack of an ability to think out of the box and observe deeper meaning, perhaps due to internalized oppression and a fearful desire to talk and act just like a white man in order to be taken seriously. Wright’s argument that the novel has no central theme and is parallel to minstrel shows, and Locke’s belief that Hurston uses relatable language to avoid diving into mature writing, are inherently wrong and fueled by the very issues Hurston was trying to combat: racism and sexism.

Janie shows the issues African Americans faced during this period and the their newfound confidence but also shows differences from the beliefs of this era. Hurston uses these departures and similarities to allow the reader to further understand the novel and the time period in which it takes

Published in 1937 by author Zora Neale Hurston, the novel ‘Their Eyes Were Watching God’ chronicles an African American woman's journey to find true love in the Deep South. On one hand, an equal balance of power in a relationship leads to equality, fulfilment, and happiness for both partners - as observed in Janie’s relationship with Vergible Woods (Tea Cake). On the other hand, an unequal distribution of power in a marriage with a dominant partner leads to an overall sense of discontent and unhappiness in the relationship, as observed in Janie’s first two marriages to Logan Killicks and Joe Starks respectively. Thus, an equal balance of power in a relationship built on mutual respect and desire is a vital to a stable and healthy relationship.

In the beginning of the novel, Hurston portrays black people as occupying a lower status than their white counterparts, but through Janie’s growth, Hurston conveys the message that being black should be a positive part of identity. At the distinct start of the novel, a narrative reads, “It was the time to hear things and talk. These sitters had been tongueless, earless, eyeless conveniences all day long. Mules and other brutes had occupied their skins. But now, the sun and the bossman were gone, so the skin felt powerful and human” (1). The inclusion of this narrative indirectly sets the scene for Their Eyes Were Watching God. The “conveniences” being talked about are the black people. The idea that these “conveniences” are “tongueless, earless, and eyeless” all day long insinuates

In the novel, “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” by Zora Neale Hurston Tea Cake becomes an unlikely hero because of the way he saves Janie physically and emotionally. Before Janie met Tea Cake she was emotionally abused from Joe Starks treating her terribly for over twenty years. When Janie met Tea Cake it was as if she was seventeen again and was just starting her life with someone she had known forever because their love was so intense. Tea Cake not only saved Janie emotionally, but he actually saved her life during the hurricane twice. First from drowning then when she was about to be bitten by a rabid dog.

Susan B. Anthony once said there is not a women born who desires to eat the bread of dependence. In the novel Their eyes were watching god by Zora Neal Hurston, Janie Crawford depicts the life of a young African women who struggles with male dominance. As well for Mrs. Mallard in The story of an hour by Kate Chopin. Both of these women become independent, share experiences with male dominance and share an appealing perspective toward nature. They also have distinctive outcomes in their lives. Janie and Mrs. Mallard share similarities in their lives and distinctions as well.

“Beans running fine and prices good, so the Indians could be, must be, wrong. You couldn’t have a hurricane when you’re making seven and eight dollars a day picking beans. Indians are dumb anyhow, always were. Another night of Stew Beef making dynamic subtleties with his drum and living, sculptural, grotesques in the dance”(155).

Hurston's “Their Eyes Were Watching God” presents several themes such as speech and silence, love and marriage, and finally gender roles. Zora Neale Hurston does an outstanding job of instituting what men such as Joe Starks believed were the standard roles for the African American female. Hurston pertinently described Janie through her relationship with Joe, the metaphoric value of the mule, and her dialogue as a woman of strength, not concerned with the ideals of her white female counterparts, sitting up on a high chair and overlooking the world. Janie desired a greater purpose.

Through racist views Janie and her community were cast apart and alienated from society. They banded together as a united force, although strong, they were seen as less than equals to their white counterparts. Throughout the novel we see many examples of racism and it’s cruel remarks, however the most prevalent is found in Janie’s conversations with Mrs Turner. Through these conversations Mrs Turner informs the reader of her racist passions and thoughts of both black and white races. (Hurston, chp 16). In these remarks and racial slurs the reader is able to correlate the ideals of Mrs. Turner to the ones found in today’s society. We as a country are unfortunately built upon racism, and it is due to those beliefs of inferiority belonging to Mrs. Turner and others that our country is still so divided. However, with great love, we as Americans can fight for what’s right and take a stand like Janie did.

In Zora Neal Hurston’s novel, the story is about An African-American woman named Janie Crawford. The book was set in the 20th century in central and southern Florida. The story shows her journey through life and the obstacles she faces along the way. Janie goes through four men in her life, each leading her closer to discovering herself. The novel begins as Janie returns to her hometown Eatonville, Florida. It has been two years since Janie left and this makes her neighbors question her. The last memory of Janie was her leaving in a wedding dress. Her returning in dirty overalls makes her town wonder what happened while she was gone. Virginia Heffernan states that the story, “…Opens with Janie

This is especially seen in the atrocity of slavery, as African Americans were seen as simply property. Janie's grandmother is an example of this as she was still a slave when she gave birth to Janie's mother. However, Janie's grandmother was impregnated by her white owner prompting his wife to question the origins of Janie’s grandmother’s baby: “‘N----r, whut’s yo’ baby doin’ wid gray eyes and yaller hair?’”(Hurston 17). Because people with darker skin were defined as property anything that was done to them was seen as acceptable. This racial divide led to the very sharp contrast between owner and slave which defined much of Janie's grandmother and mother's

Within the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God the main character Janie Crawford came into many relationships throughout her life, but three of those many made a drastic change in her life. With her first marriage to Mr. Logan Killicks which was not a man she wanted to marry at such a young age. Her second marriage being to Mr. Joe Starks, who she loved. Although their love was soon to run short. Her last and most unforgotten marriage was to Mr. Vergible Woods also known as Tea Cake.

I read Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, copyright in 1937 and has a total of 193 pages.

Throughout history, the aspiration to accomplish one’s dreams and gain self-fulfillment has been and continues to be prevalent. Consequently, one’s reactions to the obstacles propelled at them may define how they will move forward in search of achieving their goals. Reaching one’s full potential is certainly not an easy conquest. Zora Neale Hurston, an especially noteworthy African American author, uses her astounding piece of literature, Their Eyes Were Watching God, to illuminate the path to discovering what is truly valuable in life. She uses the character, Janie Woods, who endures some of the greatest hardship imagined to elucidate the ways in which hindrance, although discouraging, only makes one stronger. Accordingly, Hurston argues