Their Eyes Were Watching God Setting

Zora Neale Hurston’s 1930 novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, illustrates the importance of storytelling in a community. Daily, the people of the all-black town of Eatonville sit around their porches and tell stories. Speech is used as a symbol of liberation for the citizens, as it allows them to speak their mind by fabricating their own stories while learning from others’ tales. A way of life stems from this routine that defines both the town and the people living in it. Storytelling allows the people of Eatonville to construct their own culture.
The porch setting enables the people of Eatonville to define themselves. As an all black population who lived during the 20s, the characters in the town experienced many types of oppression based

When Janie tells her story to Phoebe, she define herself in the community of Eatonville. Phoebe, before Janie even starts her story, tells her that, “if [Janie] so desires, [Phoebe will] tell ‘em what [Janie] tells [her] to tell ‘em” (6). Phoebe, although she’s first characterized as Janie’s best friend, represents the bigger community of Eatonville. This implies that by telling Phoebe her story, Janie’s also opening up to the entire community. When she finishes her story, Janie states that, “talkin’ don’t amount tuh uh hill uh beans when yuh can’t do nothin’ else. And listenin’ tuh uh is jus’ lak openin’ yo’ mouth and lettin’ de moon shine down yo’ throat” (192). She’s implying that the purpose of listening and talking at the porch is only beneficial when the people in the town are able to first define themselves by living their own experiences rather than judging others. By stating this, Janie contradicts previous texts of when “they became lords of sounds and lesser things. They passed nations through their mouths. They sat in judgement”. She takes away most of the porch’s power by not only defining herself, but by stating that the porch never really had authority over her. Janie furthers the idea by stating, “you got tuh go there tuh known there” (192). That without any personal experience from each member of the town, no true community can created. Phoebe finally leaves for home after retaining Janie’s tale, while Janie chooses to stay in her backyard. Janie feels as if her story has been told, and now feels whole. She discovers that her ability to define herself is powered by her experiences and goals. Janie’s development of her own voice showcases her inner growth. Janie has finally threaded her own place in the