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Their Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurston Character Analysis

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The novel Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston presents Janie Crawford: a woman who learns through her marriage that her mind has no importance to a man as she enters her second marriage. She leaps into the arms of a man named Joe Starks hoping for change and a new love to blossom. However, Janie was constantly trapped in a cage of submission by Joe constantly never being able to do what she liked; only being able to remain perched on a high chair looking over the world she longed to be a part of. This continued until Death took hold of his life 20 years later. “‘Mah own mind had tuh be squeezed and crowded out tuh make room for yours in me’” says Janie to Joe as he lies on his deathbed. (Hurston 86). Janie’s thoughts were thrown
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- Zora Neale Hurston, born January 7th, 1891, was an African-American author, widely known for her classic novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. Being raised in Eatonville, Florida, the first black township of the United States, Hurston was indulged in black culture at a very early age. Zora was described to have a fiery, yet bubbly spirit, befriending very influential people, one being American poet, Langston Hughes. With heavy influence from her hometown, along with the achievement of the black women around her, an abundance of motivation came when Hurston wrote Their Eyes Were Watching God. The novel promotes black power, all while rejecting the stereotypes held against women.

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Tea Cake is introduced as a clever, younger man that Janie takes interest in. Janie clearly pays attention to this man because he is handsome and actually wants her to play checkers with him, which Jodie Starks always forbid her to do. She realizes this and explains, “Somebody wanted her to play. Somebody thought it natural for her to play. That was even nice”

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Complexity highlights not only the differences in characters, but also how they complement each other and add tension to the novel. Zora Neale Hurston uses this to her advantage in Their Eyes Were Watching God, making sure the characters all provide a meaningful addition to the complexity of the overall novel by contradicting or complementing each other. As much as Nanny contradicts her granddaughter's thoughts and wishes, Janie continues to trust her. Nanny was born and grew up as a slave. This imprinted several key values about marriage and life in general which did not apply to Janie and her quest for love.

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“I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.” Jane Austen. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston depicted the travels of Janie Crawford and her understanding of womanhood and freedom through her several marriages. Throughout the book, Hurston portrays the growth of Janie and her ideals, her hair being a major recurring symbol.

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In all three marriages Janie grew up. She was only 16 when first married. Everything she learned was from the time she was 16 to when Tea Cake died. Not only did Janie become the women she wanted, but became someone she felt comfortable being. Nothing could take that away from her.

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In the book Their eyes were watching god, Janie 's goal in life is to find true love. Hurston defined Janie 's hopes and dreams in the beginning chapters of the book. Janie was watching a bee pollinate a flower and that is when she comes to the conclusion, that this is love. True love is what Janie seeks for in her life. Throughout her journey for true love, Janie has overcame many obstacles.

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Janie’s struggles played a huge role in finding her self relevance. People, life, words, rumors, and love all made impacts on her appearance and actions. Joe Starks made her life tougher and treated her like she was banal and small. Joe did not like the fact that Janie’s beauty attracted other men to her, so Joe made her look superior so they did not try anything. All Janie wanted was to join in on the conversations around her, but Joe thought otherwise.

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Hurston narrates belief to motivate African American women to conquer and be strong. (49) The story finally tells that Janie found liberty and tranquility in her life. Her experience reflects on promoting women’s

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Though Janie faces loss multiple times through the deaths of these people that she loves dearly, she gains qualities in herself which she can use later in her life. In her first relationship with Joe, Janie is continually oppressed in terms of when she’s allowed to speak and how she controls her own appearance but this oppression only works to shape her personality into one that can speak back and be more assertive in front of anyone. By having to be in a situation where she has to choose whether to shoot Tea Cake, she becomes more resilient and proactive. Only through the loss of youthfulness and two loved ones is Janie able to truly discover who she, conveying Hurston’s larger message that self-discovery is fueled through loss and

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1134 Words | 5 Pages

“It was the time for sitting on porches besides the road. It was the time to hear things and talk. These sitters had been tongueless, earless, eyeless conveniences all day long,”(1) throughout the entire day people on the porch have looked down and judged others for being the way they are. In Zora Neale Hurston’s novel Their Eyes Were Watching God the dominant character Janie had a life full of dramatic aspects, with many influences. Her idea of porches and being gifted with the power to sit on them continually shine through the text.

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The Harlem Renaissance was a time where the African American community was able to dig deep and self discover what their life journey was for them. Through jazz, art, and many other stems of expression, the Harlem Renaissance served as an outlet for many to express their journey with others. Zora Neale Hurston was a notable writer during this period in history, creating works that included the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God and the essay “How It Feels to Be Colored Me.” Hurston's writings both adheres to and departs from Harlem Renaissance values, Because Hurston composed these writings to send a message to our community about self discovery and values of life.

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In Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie Crawford proves she is a weak woman by sucking herself into a bad relationship and not doing anything to get out. Jody, Janie’s second husband tried to control her more than anyone else, and he does so successfully. A few reasons why he was overly controlling of her include refusing to let her go do things she wants to do, will not let her talk and enjoy herself with the town’s people, and believes that all women are inferior. Although she does grow to realize that the way he treats her is not right, she keeps her mouth shut and puts up with it.

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Conclusion Their Eyes Were Watching God is Hurston’s document to explain the impact of the history which is represented by the legacy of slavery on the present dilemma of her female protagonist Janie. As Janie’s grandmother was abused physically and exploited sexually and her mother was also raped ,Janie develops her past history within the era of post- Emancipation and attempt to find the real concept of her identity and self-fulfilment. Janie tries to put an end to the African –American women’s thoughts which are influenced by the white culture.

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526 Words | 3 Pages

In Zora Neale Hurston's novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God," the protagonist Janie Crawford's search for love is a central theme. Throughout the novel, Janie experiences various types of love from her three husbands, each of which ends in a different manner. Janie's first husband, Logan Killicks, represents a traditional and practical form of love. Logan is a wealthy landowner, and Janie's grandmother sees him as a good match for Janie due to his financial stability.

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1719 Words | 7 Pages

The horizon, the undefinable point at which the sea appears to meet the sky, features rolling waves gently kissing soft, wispy clouds. Each individual defines the exact point of the horizon for himself, and this point changes indefinitely from whichever shore, or perspective, the person views it from. Throughout Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, Janie views her horizon, or ultimate objectives, from a myriad of viewpoints, and finally “pull[ed] in her horizon like a great fish-net,” and defined her individuality as a woman who rejects living passively and harnesses life’s opportunities. Initially, Hurston defines a woman as a watcher of ships and dreams on a horizon, and a realist on the shores of life. She writes “[for

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