Their Eyes Were Watching God Analysis

Janie’s second husband, Joe Starks, forces Janie to wear a head-rag when in public. Because Janie’s hair is so attractive to men, Joe jealously makes his wife bind her hair, constrainin...

The slave culture of the southern U.S., though dead by the time of Janie’s life, has a profound effect on the book, grounding all discussion of racism and emerging most strongly in the charac...

In the first chapter, it’s clear that the narrator is omniscient because she gives insight into the thoughts of Janie, Pheoby, and the gossipy Eatonville women sitting on their porches. Thoug...

Basically, we follow Janie for her whole life. Early on we discover exactly what motivates her – the quest for true love – and for the rest of the novel we follow her exploits in her pu...

Hurston’s tone is one of deep appreciation and joyous celebration of the richness of African-American culture. She depicts her black characters holistically, with a whole range of flaws but a...

That's right, Shmoopers. We have invented a new style and we cordially invite you to go out and use this term widely in conversation. Let's give you an example, shall we? "Wowzers, Tabitha, I just...

The precise meaning of the title is up for debate, although it touches upon many of the book’s important themes. There are two primary points in the novel that reference the title. Firstly, "...

Janie is a romantic young girl living a relatively comfortable life with her grandmotherJanie is struck by the seemingly-magical union between a bee and a pear blossom in her youth. This affects he...

This story doesn’t easily conform to one single plot type. Janie’s story seems to have three rather distinct parts – one corresponding to each of her husbands – each with it...

The adult Janie returns to Eatonville without her new young lover and without her silk dresses. The town is curious about what happened to her, and Janie tells her best friend Pheoby the story of h...

Zora Neale Hurston grew up in Eatonville, Florida, where much of Janie Crawford’s story is set.Hurston was never able to support herself with her writing so she died in a welfare hospital.Pro...

Sex is seen pretty negatively in the lives of Janie’s mother and grandmother. Janie’s mother was violently raped, and Nanny had a baby by her slave master, so that was probably rape too...

Bible: Archangel Michael from Rev. 12:7-8 – "angel wid de sword" (2.52); Isaac and Rebecca from Gen. 24 – "at the well" (5.98); St. Paul (6.148); Methusalem from Gen. 5:27 – "old...