Their Eyes Were Watching God, written by Zora Neale Hurston, follows the maturation of the protagonist, Janie Crawford Starks. Throughout her life, she comes across people who work towards subduing or building her voice and image. With the insight into the ideologies that are held by each individual she encounters, the reader is able to grasp a wholesome understanding of the era in which Janie lived; a time of hardship engendered by prejudice and injustice. Multiple characters, including Janie, reference a God or a higher power throughout the novel in times of adversity. Hurston’s characters are watching a God that is able to offer what they believe will make them complete.
Janie’s grandmother, Nanny, watches a God that is the decider of fate. …show more content…
During the duration with which the relationship between Tea Cake and Janie was alive, there is little to no acknowledgement or the mention of a God by Janie or other characters. Only when the livelihoods of Tea Cake and Janie are at stake is God mentioned. During the hurricane, God is referenced four times within the span of three pages. While Tea Cake and Janie hide from the hurricane storm, Tea Cake asks Janie if she regrets stepping down from her aristocratic life to the ‘Glades. She responds by stating, “Naw...It’s so many people never seen de light at all. Ah wuz fumblin’ round and God opened de door” (159). Janie suddenly reaches for her God as she feels she will lose her ideal lover, Tea Cake. At this point in her maturity, she juxtaposes the ideal love, true love, she has been able to reap from Tea Cake with God’s offering. Finally, when Janie returns to Eatonville after Tea Cake’s funeral, she tells Phoebe, “Two things everybody’s got tuh find out about livin’ fuh theyselves. Tey got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin’ fuh theyselves” (192). After the experiences that went into the aiding of her maturity, Janie is able to find peace with herself. Janie refers to God as he was able to offer the ideal of being at peace with
Janie’s grandmother, Nanny, watches a God that is the decider of fate. …show more content…
During the duration with which the relationship between Tea Cake and Janie was alive, there is little to no acknowledgement or the mention of a God by Janie or other characters. Only when the livelihoods of Tea Cake and Janie are at stake is God mentioned. During the hurricane, God is referenced four times within the span of three pages. While Tea Cake and Janie hide from the hurricane storm, Tea Cake asks Janie if she regrets stepping down from her aristocratic life to the ‘Glades. She responds by stating, “Naw...It’s so many people never seen de light at all. Ah wuz fumblin’ round and God opened de door” (159). Janie suddenly reaches for her God as she feels she will lose her ideal lover, Tea Cake. At this point in her maturity, she juxtaposes the ideal love, true love, she has been able to reap from Tea Cake with God’s offering. Finally, when Janie returns to Eatonville after Tea Cake’s funeral, she tells Phoebe, “Two things everybody’s got tuh find out about livin’ fuh theyselves. Tey got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin’ fuh theyselves” (192). After the experiences that went into the aiding of her maturity, Janie is able to find peace with herself. Janie refers to God as he was able to offer the ideal of being at peace with