How Does Hurston Present The Theme Of The Community In Their Eyes Were Watching God

Zora Neale Hurston’s life consists of a devotion to recording, preserving, and analyzing patterns of speech and thought of rural black south and related cultures (Johnson 161). Hurston’s research on rural black folklore heavily influenced her writing and lead to the creation of one of her most famous works Their Eyes Were Watching God. In the novel, Hurston displays the black culture in the South as “a representation of distinct cultural tradition and a place for spiritual revitalization” (O’Banner 35). Such depiction of the South in the novel is particularly seen in the journey of the character Janie Mae Crawford and the influences of the community on her choices, thoughts, and individuality. Hurston demonstrates a community where the values

The novel begins with Janie returning home following her journey, where she is greeted with hostility through the malicious gossip of the women. Comments such as “what she doin coming back here in dem overhalls,” “what dat ole forty year ole ’ oman doin’ wid her hair swingin’ down her back lak some young gal,” or “she de one been doin’ wrong,” demonstrates how Janie defies the social norm (Hurston 2-3). The gossip that is shared amongst the women places Janie in a negative light. She is seen as this rebellious individual who goes against what her community accepts. For example, Janie’s rebellious nature is displayed through her decision to fall for a younger man, Tea Cake, to wear overalls, and to wear her hair long. It is those life choices that Janie makes that sparks a curiosity in her best friend Pheoby as Janie reveals her story and “Pheoby eager to feel and do through Janie, but hating to show her zest for fear it might be thought mere curiosity”(7). The interaction between Pheoby and Janie demonstrates that Janie is a bold and unique person as Phoeby’s curiosity and eagerness to know about her journey suggests that Janie’s story is far from the ordinary. Pheoby views Janie as “full of that oldest human longing---self revelation”

To Janie’s grandmother, a woman is to seek security and respectability in her life. Nanny’s previous life as a slave makes her believe that “it wasn’t for me to fulfill my dreams of what a woman oughta be and to do” (16). Thus, through those sought-after values of black women within the community with similar experiences and thinking, Nanny believes Janie will have a fruitful life filled with stability, wealth, and success. However, she believes Janie would achieve this through marriage as she mentions “Ah wants to see you married right away…want to marry off decent.” (12-13). Nanny pushes Janie into an arranged marriage with Logan Killicks, an older man who can provide financial security and respectability that the Nanny values. Although Janie agrees to marry out of respect for her grandmother, Janie does not want to enter a marriage for the values that is imposed by her culture’s standards, but for her value of