Hurston, Zora Neale: 1891-1960

Their Eyes Were Watching God, 1937 - Information About the Book

General Information | Facts | Commentary | Articles | Podcasts

General Information
- Good for Discussing:
  Black Womanhood
  Love and Autonomy
  Struggles for Identity Within Oppressive Social Structures
- "Their Eyes Were Watching God" is the coming-of-age story of Janie Crawford, an African American woman growing up in Eatonville, Florida, one of the first incorporated African American towns in the United States. She discovers that listening to her inner guidance is more powerful than listening to the fears, wants, and criticisms of others. See Summary.
  It is a rather difficult book to read.
- Information from Wikipedia
- Information from Hurston's Homepage
- Information from Britannica
- Information from the National Endowment for the Arts
- Zora Neale Hurston’s inspiration for writing “Their Eyes Were Watching God.”
  
  Hurston wrote the novel while in Haiti under emotional duress, describing it as a story that had been “dammed up” inside her for months. The romance between Janie and Tea Cake in the novel was inspired by a passionate but tumultuous love affair Hurston had with Percival Punter, which deeply influenced her portrayal of love and relationships.
  Hurston’s background as an anthropologist and folklorist played a significant role. She incorporated the dialects, folklore, and cultural practices of rural African American communities she studied, particularly in Eatonville, Florida—her hometown and one of the first all-Black incorporated towns in the U.S.
Facts
- Awards:
  
  Some of the notable awards are:
  Modern Library's 100 Best Novels: The novel frequently appears on lists of the greatest English-language novels of the 20th century, including the Modern Library's list.
  National Endowment for the Arts' Big Read: "Their Eyes Were Watching God" has been selected for inclusion in the NEA's Big Read program, which aims to broaden the understanding of the world, communities, and oneself through the joy of sharing a good book.
  
  Harlem Renaissance: While not an award per se, the novel is often associated with and celebrated as a significant work of the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement of the 1920s and 1930s that focused on African American literature, art, and music.
- Topics
  
  Search for Identity and Independence
  Janie's journey is fundamentally about her quest for self-realization and independence. Throughout the novel, she seeks to find her own voice and assert her identity, often against societal and personal constraints.
  
  Love and Relationships
  The novel explores different forms of love through Janie's three marriages. Each relationship offers a different perspective on love, ranging from oppressive to liberating, and helps Janie grow as a person.
  
  Gender Roles and Feminism
  Janie's struggle against traditional gender roles is a central theme. The novel critiques the limited roles available to women in the early 20th century and highlights Janie's defiance of these expectations.
  
  Race and Racism
  While the novel primarily focuses on gender, it also addresses the complexities of race and identity within the African American community. It investigates how race intersects with other social issues.
  
  Voice and Language
  Hurston's use of dialect and oral storytelling is significant. The narrative structure, which combines standard English with African American Vernacular English, reflects the cultural richness of the characters' backgrounds.
  
  The Role of Nature
  Nature imagery, especially the horizon, the pear tree, and the hurricane, symbolizes Janie's inner life and her connection to the natural world. These elements often reflect her emotional states and desires.
  
  Community and Social Critique
  The novel portrays the African American community in Eatonville and the Everglades, offering a critique of its dynamics, gossip, and societal pressures. Hurston presents a nuanced view of community life and its impact on individuals.
  
  Spirituality and Religion
  The title itself suggests a search for spiritual fulfillment. The characters' interactions with God and spirituality are complex and reflect their personal struggles and resilience.
  
  Symbolism and Motifs
  The novel is rich with symbolism, such as the pear tree representing Janie's idealized views of nature and love, and the horizon symbolizing her aspirations and the possibilities of life.
  
  Legacy and Influence
  The impact of Hurston's work on African American literature and women's literature is profound. Her portrayal of a strong, independent African American woman was groundbreaking and continues to influence contemporary writers.
  
  Their Eyes Were Watching God is not just a story of one woman's life but also a broader commentary on the societal norms of the time, and it remains a powerful text for discussions on race, gender, and identity.
- Quotes
- Introduction with summary, themes, characters, style, analysis of literary devices
- Meaning of “A Sight for Sore Eyes”
- General Perception
  
  The novel received mixed reception. Some literary critics, especially those aligned with the Harlem Renaissance, were critical of Hurston’s work. Richard Wright, a prominent African American author and critic, wrote a scathing review.
  Despite the criticism, some praised Hurston’s use of dialect and rich, poetic language. Among general readers, the novel did not gain immediate widespread attention. It was neither a commercial success nor a major literary event at the time of its publication.
  
  Over time, "Their Eyes Were Watching God" has been re-evaluated and is now celebrated as a seminal work in both African American literature and women's literature. The novel gained renewed interest in the 1970s during the rise of the feminist movement and the Black Arts Movement.
  
  In conclusion, while "Their Eyes Were Watching God" faced significant criticism and modest attention upon its release, it has since been recognized as a masterpiece that powerfully explores themes of identity, autonomy, and the African American experience.
- Reader Rating:
Commentary
- This complex, rich, and remarkable novel was written in 1937 by a remarkable woman. Hurston was a novelist, folklorist and anthropologist--her interest in language and culture are abundant in the multiple dialects and voices used in the text. Although the novel was sharply criticized shortly after publication and went out of print, it was rediscovered in the late 1960s and is now popular in literature and black studies courses.
  Janie was an unusual protagonist for her time--black, female, independent and strong. The section concerning her loving care of Tea Cake after he was bitten by a rabid dog is both tender and epic--tender in her love and concern and steadfastness, epic in her suffering and pain and resultant growth.
  Audrey Shafer, Stanford University
  Excerpted, with permission, from the Literature, Arts, and Medicine Database at New York University School of Medicine, © New York University.
Articles: General Information | Detailed/Scholarly Information
- General Information:
- Themes: "The article provides a basic overview of the novel’s main themes (like love, freedom, gender roles, racial identity, power, etc.) with some explanation for each."
- Critical Reception: "The article provides a clear overview of the novel’s critical reception over time, especially how it was received at publication and later revived, but it doesn’t delve deeply into thematic or textual analysis." February 21, 2017
- Audio guide about Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, narrated by David Kipen and featuring Ruby Dee, Robert Hemenway, Carla Kaplan, Bret Lott, Azar Nafisi, Jerry Pinkney, and Alice Walker: "The audio guide provides a general literary and contextual overview of Their Eyes Were Watching God including discussions of the author, the protagonist Janie’s life‑story and themes like identity, voice, and love, but it does not offer deep critical analysis." The Big Read; November 24, 2013
- Critical Essays Major Themes: "The article provides a clear overview of the key themes, especially Janie’s evolving search for love and independence, but it’s relatively simple."
- Professor Kristen Over of Northeastern Illinois University provides an in-depth analysis: "The video provides a clear summary and covers key themes, plot points, and character analysis, but it’s more descriptive than deeply analytical or critical."
- What I Learned About Love: "The article offers a personal and reflective take on key themes like love and partnership." Eve Dunbar, Vassar College; June 8, 2017
- Audio guide about Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, narrated by David Kipen and featuring Ruby Dee, Robert Hemenway, Carla Kaplan, Bret Lott, Azar Nafisi, Jerry Pinkney, and Alice Walker: "The audio guide provides a general literary and contextual overview of Their Eyes Were Watching God including discussions of the author, the protagonist Janie’s life‑story and themes like identity, voice, and love, but it does not offer deep critical analysis." The Big Read; November 24, 2013
- Books That Shaped America. Daniel Whitman, Assistant Professor of Foreign Policy at the Washington Semester Program, discusses the novel: "The video gives a clear summary of the book and its main themes but isn’t highly detailed or analytically deep."
- Rutgers University English professor Cheryl Wall discusses Hurston’s unique blend of ethnography and literature: "The video provides a reasonably informative analysis, summarizing key plot points and themes."
- Detailed/Scholarly Information:
- Understanding Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God: "The article provides a solid, scholarly analysis focusing on the novels place in Black women’s literary tradition." Research Gate; December 2007
- Re-articulation in Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God: "The article provides a deep, scholarly, and theoretically rich analysis, situating Hurston’s novel within frameworks like ecofeminism, womanism, and ecosexuality and emphasizing how the protagonist’s self-articulation connects with nature and female subjectivity. It goes well beyond surface summary and offers an informed academic interpretation." The Grove. Working Papers on English Studies; September 13, 2023
Podcasts:
- Professor Plant explains how Hurston’s training as an anthropologist shaped her writing. New York University. 2020
  "The podcast provides a solid scholarly discussion with insightful context. It covers key interpretive insights from expert Deborah Plant about Hurston’s themes, cultural context, and literary significance rather than just summarizing the plot."
- Poet Joshua Bennett discusses the novel’s longstanding impact and what it can teach us about cancel culture. New York University. 2022
  "The podcast episode provides a substantive and insightful discussion, focusing on its literary impact, historical context, and enduring themes through expert commentary."
- Zora Neale Hurston brings to life a Southern love story that explores race, gender roles, and identity, which influenced African-American and women's literature. Talk with English Professor Gary Richards of The University of Mary Washington. 2023