Their Eyes Were Watching God Literary Analysis

The novel, “Their Eyes Were Watching God'' by Zora Neale Hurston follows the experiences of Janie, as she shares her life story with some townsfolk. Themes of identity, gender, race, assimilation, and community are found throughout the novel, as Janie struggles with each as a black woman in the early 20th century. Janie’s story connects these themes to the terms, epithets, post-racial, and stereotype through showing the impact experiencing those terms has on the characters.
Epithets are derogatory words used to describe a group. A prime example of this language in use is Mrs. Turner’s ideology about her appearance, “To her way of thinking all these things set her aside from “—---'' (Hurston 174). Despite being a part of the group the term

This concept is commonly seen in childhood, as children do not yet grasp the concept of race. Janie’s childhood is a prime example, as she states that, “Ah was wid dem white chillun so much till Ah didn’t know Ah wuzn’t white till Ah was round six years old” (Hurston 17). Janie was unaware that she was different from the white children she was surrounded by, showing that race did not play a part in the children’s decision to play together. Although race was unimportant to her in childhood, once she discovers her race, the harsh reality of the world sets in. She must face ridicule from black students at school for living in a white family’s backyard (Hurston 18). Showing that she is not like the white children but does not fit in with the black children either. This can also be seen when Nanny makes the decision to marry Janie off, as Nanny sees it as the only way for Janie to live a decent life due to her race and gender. The fact that race has so much weight in Nanny’s decision to marry Janie off, despite the struggle Janie faces while assimilating to the conditions of the marriage, shows that post racialism is an idealist term that is only possible during childhood in Janie’s time period, as her race had to determine the type of life she

Stereotypes can be used to paint targeted groups in a negative light, as some assumptions are false and harmful. A stereotype forced upon Janie is one enforced by Jody in her second marriage. He forces her into his ideal role of the mayor’s wife, making her silent and unopinionated. He says, “But de mayor’s wife is somethin’ different again. Anyhow they’s liable tuh need me tuh say uh few words over de carcass, dis bein’ uh special case. But you ain’t goin’ off in all dat mess uh commonness” (Hurston 86). In saying that Janie cannot speak at the occasion, Jody is silencing her, and forcing into the role that he thinks a woman should play because of a derogatory stereotype of women. The townsfolk similarly enforce stereotypes on Janie, as her status as the mayor’s wife is coveted and romanticized, despite the reality falling short of expectations. This leads to a lack of community for Janie, as others see her as untouchable due to the stereotype of the mayor’s wife. Due to all the assumptions being forced upon her, Janie struggles with her identity. Having never fully formed it in years past, the silencing of her opinions and lack of a community to support her actively works against her search for identity. However, once Jody passes, Janie is free from the oppressive stereotypes that he had placed upon her and is free to express herself. This shift in mentality can be seen through her change in physical