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Their Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurston

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The novel Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston is an invaluable contribution to the feminist and gender discourse, as it provides a unique perspective on the intersection of gender and race, and offers a powerful example of female self-determination.

The novel Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston is an invaluable contribution to feminism. Hurston uses her novel to portray an independent woman, Janie, who is on a journey to find her own identity and realize her ambitions. As Janie states, “Ah done been tuh de horizon and back and now Ah kin set heah in mah house and live by comparisons” (Chapter 15, p.140). Hurston uses Janie to demonstrate that women are capable of living life on their own terms, without the need for a man’s approval. Janie’s determination and strength is further highlighted when she exclaims, “She had an inside and an outside now and suddenly she knew how not to mix them” (Chapter 7, p.70). Hurston’s novel is a valuable contribution to feminism as it shows that women are capable of being independent and can …show more content…

Here, Hurston conveys the idea of freedom and independence of African American women, a freedom which is often hindered by gender and race. At another point in the novel, Hurston states, "She felt the old thrill of touching the secret springs of life that made her feel the pull of unknown forces" (90, Chapter 10). This quote speaks to the idea of African American women having the power to control their own destiny, despite the restrictions imposed upon them by society and gender roles. Through these two quotes, Hurston provides a unique perspective on how gender and race can be used to limit people, but how individuals can still find freedom despite these restrictions and as long as they have faith in

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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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Race, Gender, and Social Norms In the book Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston it focused on a woman named Janie who was on the quest of finding true love. Hurston made sure she included the realities of the era in which the book was written which is the 1900’s. Hurston made sure to include issues like race, gender, and social norms into Janie’s life and everything and everyone that was around her.

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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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Nirvan Pandya Mr. Farnsworth English 11 Honors February 9th, 2023 The Progression and Fight for Feminism in Their Eyes Were Watching God In American literature, works of the 20th century are likely to be based on the progression of rights and freedom for minorities. Their Eyes Were Watching God, written by Zora Neale Hurston, is a feminist novel analyzed by many critics, depicting the development of the protagonist, Janie May Crawford. Janie is a biracial woman who spent most of her life subdued by towering masculinity up until her third marriage.

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In the book, Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, the female character, Janie Crawford, goes through the hardships of finding her true love. Throughout her life, she was in relationships between three guys but unfortunately for her, they haven’t gone so well. With the problems she faced, it shows that she is a strong female character in terms of the feminist theory. She’s a strong female character because with the problems she faced for several years, she endured the struggles of her femininity being shut down but eventually starts to stand up for herself.

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In the Novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, author Zora Neale Hurston uses themes of identity and challenging traditional roles to reflect ideas of the Harlem Renaissance. The novel follows the life of Janie, a black woman who finds her way through the challenges of life independently for the most part. Janie finds herself in a society that is portrayed as men lead the world. She challenges these stereotypes by becoming a strong and independent woman.

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Aria Jackson Ms. Lavelle 4/21/23 The Harlem Renaissance was known at the time as the, “New Negro Movement.” From literature to music to art, this period emphasized the struggles and experiences of African-Americans as a whole. The Harlem Renaissance explored themes of economic social prosperity, the importance of community, the power of rebirth, and the value of self-expression, and the role of spirituality. Through the neighborhood gossiping about Janie, to not being able to go to the funeral, to her taking off her head rag, and to reminiscing her flashback to phoebe, Zora Neale Hurston departs from the harlem renaissance value of community and reflects the harlem renaissance value of self expression.

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Such a refreshing feeling conveys a deeper message yet again from Hurston that women can live interesting lives without

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Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston is a story written about a woman by a woman. It is often looked at from a feminist point of view. It is often thought that Hurston wrote the novel with that intention. In the novel readers see Janie develop into a strong woman through the trials that she endured. Janie worked hard to overcome the oppression of being an African American woman in the early 1900s.

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Whoever knew how difficult love can be. Love changes like the season. Summer and Spring are your happy moments. Winter and Fall are the bad moments. In the novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston shows how quick and easy love changes overtime.

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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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Denial, Acceptance, and Resilience in Zora Neal Hurston’s Literature Since the 1930s, individuals have lived under a certain power or authority in which some defy or submit to it. Zora Neal Hurston writes two compelling stories, surrounding the protagonists, 2 black women. Janie from “Their Eyes Were Watching God” and Delia from “Sweat”, endure a myriad of adversity. Both are black women who spend their life in abuse and discrimination.

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Over time, women have slowly gained more and more rights. They have become more prominent in society, making more decisions that influence their lives, as well as the lives of other people. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston highlights how the gender roles of men and women differ including women being less powerful than men, how Janie had the strength and determination to gain her own happiness, and how stereotypical roles should not play a part in society. Some people view Janie as a woman who should be dependent on her husband, following the traditional roles of women, being satisfied with her life as the less powerful sex.

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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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When someone’s story isn't public knowledge, the public tends to make up their story for them. In the novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston uses third-person narration to demonstrate Janie’s story being told in a way of which she is not in control. By giving her story to Pheoby, Janie hopes to suppress the gossip and assumptions that have been made about her in order to earn her place in society. The role of storytelling demonstrates the necessity of a woman’s story in being part of a community.

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