Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston | Summary & Analysis | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

A coming-of-age novel set in 1920s Florida that explores love, independence, race, and gender roles through the life of Janie Crawford.

Key Insights

• 🥰 The novel examines themes of love, independence, race, and gender roles.
• 🐎 Janie's journey towards independence is a central theme, despite the limitations imposed by her race and gender.
• 🖤 Hurston explores the impact of white violence and racism on black communities.
• 🖤 The novel also delves into colorism and racism within the black community.
• 🧔‍♀️ Gender inequality is depicted through unequal relationships between men and women.
• 😯 Nature imagery, funerals, games, community, and silence vs. speech are recurring motifs.
• 🖐️ Janie's various communities play a conflicting role in her life, providing both support and judgment.

Transcript

Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God is a coming-of-age novel set in the late 1920s and early 1930s in an all-black town in Central Florida in the introduction Janie Mae Crawford returns home to Eatonville where local residents or porch sitters gossip about why she's come back without her husband phoebe watson Janie's best friend visit... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Who is the protagonist of "Their Eyes Were Watching God"?

The protagonist is Janie Crawford, a woman who seeks love and independence throughout her life.

Q: What role does race play in the novel?

Race is a significant theme, as Janie grapples with her racial identity and experiences racism within her own community.

Q: How does Janie's relationship with Tea Cake differ from her previous marriages?

Janie's relationship with Tea Cake is based on love and mutual respect, unlike her previous marriages which were loveless and controlling.

Q: What are some important symbols in the novel?

Symbols such as the blossoming pear tree, Janie's front gate, and the horizon represent themes of growth, freedom, and opportunity.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Janie returns home to Eatonville and tells her life story to her best friend, Phoebe.

• She was raised by her grandmother, Nanny, who had been a slave and raised Janie to believe she was inferior.

• Janie goes through two loveless marriages before finding true love with Tea Cake, but their relationship ends tragically.