Their Eyes Were Watching God

A powerful novel about Janie Crawford's journey to self-discovery in the early 20th century American South, featuring Hurston's lyrical prose and strong female protagonist.

Janie Crawford tells her story to her best friend Pheoby as she returns to Eatonville, Florida, after a long absence. Her narrative traces her journey through three marriages and her gradual discovery of her own identity and desires in a society that offers limited options for Black women.

Hurston's use of Black vernacular speech was revolutionary for its time, showing that African American dialect could be a sophisticated literary medium rather than simply comic relief. Janie's voice and those of her community are rendered with respect and authenticity, capturing the rhythms and poetry of oral tradition.

Janie's three marriages represent different aspects of her journey toward self-actualization. Her first marriage, arranged by her grandmother, represents security without love. Her second marriage to Joe Starks offers status and material comfort but requires her to suppress her true self. Only her third marriage, to Tea Cake, allows her to experience genuine love and partnership.

The novel's exploration of colorism within the Black community was groundbreaking, showing how skin tone affects social status and opportunities. Janie's light complexion gives her certain advantages but also creates expectations and resentments that complicate her relationships.

Hurston's descriptions of the natural world are particularly beautiful, showing the connection between Janie's emotional life and the landscape around her. The famous pear tree scene, where young Janie discovers her sexuality while watching bees pollinate blossoms, establishes nature as a symbol of authentic desire and organic growth.

The novel's ending, where Janie returns to Eatonville after Tea Cake's death, shows her as a woman who has achieved self-knowledge and independence. She has learned to value her own experience over community opinion and has found her voice both literally and figuratively.

Their Eyes Were Watching God was initially overlooked by critics but was rediscovered during the Civil Rights era and is now considered a masterpiece of American literature, influencing countless writers and establishing Hurston as a major literary voice.