58 pages • 1 hour read •
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264
Novel • Fiction
Florida • 1920s
1937
Amistad
Adult
18+ years
890L
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston follows Janie Crawford's journey from a naive girl to a strong, self-assured woman through three marriages and a quest for personal freedom in Central and South Florida. Janie's experiences with love, independence, and community shape her identity as she navigates societal expectations and personal desires. The novel addresses incidents of rape, forced pregnancy, domestic abuse, the lives of enslaved people, racism, and colorism, and portrays mental illness.
Mysterious
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Emotional
Romantic
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Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God receives praise for its rich language and vibrant portrayal of African American culture. Critics celebrate its exploration of self-identity and empowerment. However, some find the narrative's pacing uneven. Overall, it remains a poignant, lyrical masterpiece in American literature.
A reader who enjoys Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston will appreciate rich, lyrical prose and complex portrayals of African American life and womanhood. Fans of The Color Purple and Beloved will find resonance in its exploration of identity, love, and independence amidst racial and gender oppression.
373,025 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
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Nanny Crawford
Janie’s grandmother and a former enslaved woman, Nanny raises Janie and has strong beliefs about marriage for security. She pushes Janie to marry Logan Killicks for material stability, prioritizing protection over love based on her own life's experiences.
Joe "Jody" Starks
Janie's second husband, Joe is ambitious and becomes the mayor of Eatonville. He expects Janie to abide by traditional gender roles, limiting her freedom and expression during their marriage.
Vergible “Tea Cake” Woods
Janie’s third husband, Tea Cake is a charismatic adventurer who treats Janie as an equal. Their marriage provides Janie the emotional and sexual fulfillment she longed for, offering her new life experiences.
Pheoby Watson
Janie’s loyal best friend in Eatonville, Pheoby listens without judgment as Janie recounts her life story. She serves as Janie’s confidante and supporter amidst the town’s gossip.
Leafy Crawford
Janie’s mother, Leafy faced a traumatic life, conceived through a forced relationship, and later assaulted by her teacher. Her struggles deeply affected her ability to care for Janie.
Mrs. Turner
A resident of the community where Janie and Tea Cake live, Mrs. Turner owns a restaurant and displays colorism, believing her light skin makes her superior to darker-skinned people like Tea Cake.
Their Eyes Were Watching God was written in just seven weeks while Zora Neale Hurston was in Haiti studying folklore on a Guggenheim Fellowship.
When initially published in 1937, Their Eyes Were Watching God did not receive much acclaim from the African-American community, as some critics at the time considered it to be lacking in political themes and too focused on romance.
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The novel experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 1970s, largely due to the influence of author Alice Walker, who praised Hurston's work and helped spearhead the revival of interest in her writings.
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264
Novel • Fiction
Florida • 1920s
1937
Amistad
Adult
18+ years
890L
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