Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston is set in Florida in the early 20th century. The novel centers on Janie Crawford, an African American woman in her forties, who recounts her journey from a young, voiceless girl to a self-assured woman in control of her destiny. Janie's life story, which she tells to her friend Phoeby, is one of sexual awakening and personal growth.
Janie's story begins in the all-Black town of Eatonville, where she is raised by her strict grandmother, Nanny. As a young girl, she experiences a revelation under a blossoming pear tree—a symbol of her desires and dreams. Her quest for love and identity leads her through three marriages, each shaping her in different ways. Chosen by Nanny, her first husband, Logan Killicks, is a much older, hard-working farmer. He represents security but lacks the emotional connection Janie seeks. To escape a loveless marriage, she runs off with the charismatic and ambitious Joe "Jody" Starks, who establishes himself as the mayor and a successful businessman. Her second marriage brings her wealth and status but confines her to the role of a trophy wife. Kept under Jody’s thumb, Janie is subjected to emotional and physical abuse. It is not until her third marriage–to Vergible "Tea Cake" Woods, a self-assured man some 12 years younger her junior–that Janie experiences true companionship and love. Despite their age difference and societal expectations, Tea Cake and Janie respect each other as equals and share a loving and passionate, if sometimes volatile, relationship.
Janie and Tea Cake move to the Everglades region to work as migrant farm laborers. When the area is hit by a powerful hurricane, Tea Cake saves Janie's life, but he is bitten by a rabid dog. His behavior becomes increasingly erratic, jealous and violent, ultimately forcing Janie to shoot him in self-defense. At her trial, she is acquitted with the support of white female spectators. Having experienced love and tragedy, Janie returns to Eatonville a self-assured woman.
The novel addresses the complex interplay between gender and autonomy, with Janie's relationships serving as a backdrop to her struggle for self-identity within the confines of societal and racial expectations. Her journey is underscored by a deep connection to African American culture and heritage, weaving folklore, the significance of community, and the search for a voice within the broader narrative of the Black experience in the American South in the 1920s and 1930s. Originally published in 1937 and out of print for many years, was reissued in 1975. Today, it is widely recognized as a seminal work in American fiction, celebrated for its rich portrayal of African American womanhood and its innovative use of dialect and narrative style.
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Themes
Search for identity
Journey towards independence and autonomy
Love and relationships
Gender roles and societal expectations
Race and racism
Community bonding and isolation
Finding your voice
The power of speech and silence
Freedom vs. oppression
Nature and spirituality
Traditional vs. modern life
Impact of the past and culture
Female empowerment and liberation
Setting
Their Eyes Were Watching God is primarily set in central and southern Florida in the early 20th century. The story begins in the all-Black town of Eatonville, and much of the action takes place in this pioneering, self-governed African American community, which was based on Zora Neale Hurston's own hometown.
After the death of Jody, her second husband, Janie marries Tea Cake and they move to the Everglades region near Belle Glade in northern Florida. Here they work on vegetable farms in the "muck" or rich soil of the area. This rural setting in the wilderness provides a stark contrast to the more established town of Eatonville. It is also where the story's climax occurs during the devastating 1928 Okeechobee hurricane.
While anchored in the tumultuous era of the 1920s and '30s in the Jim Crow South, the novel's settings range from the security of an all-black municipality to the wild frontier of the Florida Everglades. This range allows Hurston to explore issues of race, gender, love and independence through Janie's journey across different landscapes of the rural South.
Characters
Janie Crawford: The protagonist, a Southern Black woman in the 1930s on a journey of self-discovery and independence.
Nanny Crawford: Janie's grandmother, a former slave, who raises her and seeks to secure her future by marrying her off.
Logan Killicks: Janie's first husband, a farmer, an old, unattractive widower who views her as property and a worker.
Joe "Jody" Starks: Janie's second husband, who becomes the mayor of Eatonville and treats her as a trophy wife.
Vergible "Tea Cake" Woods: Janie's third husband, a man 12 years younger, whom she truly loves but who also exhibits controlling behavior.
Phoeby Watson: Janie's best friend in Eatonville to whom she recounts her life story.
Leafy Crawford: Janie's mother, who was raped by her school teacher and became pregnant with Janie and left her to be raised by Nanny.
Motor Boat: One of Janie and Tea Cake's friends in the Everglades. He survives the hurricane with them.
Mrs. Turner: A restaurant owner in the Everglades who admires Janie's light skin and tries to set her up with her brother.
FAQs
What is the main theme of Their Eyes Were Watching God?
The main theme of Their Eyes Were Watching God is the search for personal identity and the journey towards independence and self-understanding. The novel also explores themes of love, freedom, gender roles, the significance of community, and the struggle against racial and gender discrimination.
What period does the novel cover, and where is it set?
The novel is set in the early 20th century, specifically the 1920s and 1930s, in rural Florida. It covers Janie Crawford's life journey across different communities within Florida, including Eatonville and the Everglades, reflecting on her growth and experiences in these settings.
How does the novel portray gender roles and relationships?
With Janie's three marriages depicted, the book delves into gender dynamics, patriarchal norms, and the subjugation of women during that era..
What is the significance of the novel's use of dialect and language?
The book employs African-American vernacular English to capture the authentic voices and experiences of its characters.
How does the novel depict racial identity and racial dynamics?
While focused on the African-American experience, the novel also touches on issues of colorism, racism, and the complexities of race relations. .
What is the symbolism behind the novel's title and the pear tree imagery?
The title and Janie's vision of the pear tree in bloom carry symbolic weight. Readers may seek to unpack the deeper meanings behind these motifs.
How does the novel portray Janie's journey of self-discovery and empowerment?
Janie's path to finding her voice and independence is a central arc. Readers may be interested in examining how the novel handles her personal growth and liberation.
How does Zora Neale Hurston's personal background influence the novel?
Hurston's personal background deeply informs the novel, from her anthropological work on African American folklore to her own life experiences in Eatonville, Florida. Her rich depiction of Southern Black life and dialogue in the novel reflects her deep understanding and appreciation for African American culture, community, and language.
What role does the setting of Eatonville play in the novel?
Eatonville, one of the first all-Black towns in the United States, serves as a critical backdrop for much of the novel. It represents a space of Black autonomy and community life that shapes Janie's understanding of power, freedom, and identity. Eatonville reflects the complexities and contradictions within the African American experience during the early 20th century.
How has the novel's critical reception and legacy evolved over time?
Initially, the novel was poorly received due to its focus on Black women's experiences and its use of dialect, which some critics felt did not contribute to the serious literature of the time. Over time, however, the novel has been reevaluated and celebrated for its rich storytelling, deep thematic concerns, and innovative narrative style. It is now considered a seminal work in both African American and American literature.
How does the novel's depiction of domestic violence and abuse resonate today?
Their Eyes Were Watching God confronts issues of spousal abuse and violence against women, which, sadly, remains a reality and danger for many women in the 21st century.
What impact did the novel have on future writers and literature?
Their Eyes Were Watching God has inspired countless writers and artists by showcasing the power of personal voice and the importance of telling one's own story. The novel's focus on Black female identity, resilience, and autonomy has had a profound impact on future generations, particularly within African American and feminist literary traditions.
Quotes
“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.”
“Some people could look at a mud puddle and see an ocean with ships.”
“Love is like the sea. It's a moving thing, but still and all, it takes its shape from the shore it meets, and it's different with every shore.
“She had waited all her life for something, and it had killed her when it found her.”
“There is a basin in the mind where words float around on thought and thought on sound and sight. Then there is a depth of thought untouched by words, and deeper still a gulf of formless feelings untouched by thought.”
“All gods who receive homage are cruel. All gods dispense suffering without reason. Otherwise they would not be worshiped.”
“No hour is ever eternity, but it has its right to weep.”
“She had an inside and an outside now and suddenly she knew how not to mix them.”
“They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God.”
Quick facts
Their Eyes Were Watching God was initially poorly received by many African American critics, including acclaimed author Richard Wright, who criticized Zora Neale Hurston for what he perceived to be a lack of social political insight and failure to address the racial struggles of the time.
Originally published in 1937, Their Eyes Were Watching God was out of print for nearly three decades. The novel was reissued in 1975, largely thanks to the efforts of Alice Walker, who wrote an essay in Ms. magazine titled "In Search of Zora Neale Hurston," bringing Hurston and her work back into the public's eye.
Now considered a seminal work in both African American literature and women's literature, Their Eyes Were Watching God was included in TIME magazine's 2005 list of the 100 Best Novels published in the English-language since 1923.
In addition to being a novelist, Hurston was a respected anthropologist, and her work reflects the cultural practices and oral traditions of African American and Caribbean communities.
Hurston wrote Their Eyes Were Watching God in seven weeks while she was in Haiti on a Guggenheim Fellowship, doing anthropological research on Caribbean Obeah practices.
Eatonville, Florida, the setting for much of the novel, is one of the first all-Black towns to be formed after the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and is Hurston's hometown.
The novel was adapted into a made-for-TV movie in 2005, produced by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions, with Halle Berry starring as Janie Crawford.
Alice Walker, who played a significant role in the revival of interest in Hurston's work, located and marked the author's then unmarked grave in Fort Pierce, Florida, in 1973, inscribing the tombstone with the epitaph, "Zora Neale Hurston: A Genius of the South."
About the author
Zora Neale Hurston was a seminal author, anthropologist, and filmmaker known for her contributions to African American literature, cultural studies, and the Harlem Renaissance. Her most celebrated work, Their Eyes Were Watching God, published in 1937, remains a crucial part of the American literary canon.
Born in Notasulga, Alabama, in 1891, Hurston moved as a child to Eatonville, Florida, a progressive all-Black town, which she would consider her true home and return to as the setting for many of her stories. She joined a traveling theatrical company at 16, ending up in New York City during the Harlem Renaissance, then went back to high school, receiving her diploma in her mid-twenties. She went on to attend Howard University, where she co-founded the student newspaper, and, after winning a scholarship, completed her undergraduate studies at Barnard College. From there, she pursued graduate work in anthropology at Columbia University. Throughout her career, Hurston was dedicated to capturing the oral histories, songs, and folklore of African American and Caribbean cultures.
Despite her significant contributions to literature and anthropology, Hurston's work fell into obscurity after her death in 1960. Financial hardships plagued her latter years, leading to her burial in an unmarked grave in Fort Pierce, Florida. Writer Alice Walker and Hurston scholar Charlotte D. Hunt sought to rectify this, and in 1973, Hurston received a proper memorial. Walker's subsequent article, "In Search of Zora Neale Hurston," published in Ms. magazine in 1975, spurred a revival of interest in Hurston's work, ushering in a critical reevaluation of her contributions to American literature, culture, and feminism.
Today, Zora Neale Hurston is celebrated as a pioneering figure in African American literature. Her extensive anthropological research has also been recognized for its invaluable contribution to the study of African American folklore and spiritual practices. She is also the author of Barracoon: The Story of the Last ‘Black Cargo’, numerous short stories and essays, and an autobiography, Dust Tracks on a Road.
