Analysis Of Their Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston, the author of Their Eyes Were Watching God, was an ambitious African American writer in the 20th century with numerous achievements, many including her inspirational writing pieces. Hurston was born on January 7th, 1891 and was raised on a large estate in Eatonville, Florida, the first incorporated black society in America. This culturally affirming environment aided in Hurston’s makings for success, and shaped her to be independent. Once her mother died when Hurston was barely 13 years old, her idyllic childhood was corrupted and she was left with her father, a Baptist preacher, whom she fought with frequently. That year, she was removed from school by her father and forced to work various jobs until her mid twenty’s during
The book begins with Janie observing a bee in her pear tree and from that point aspiring to find true love. After living with her grandmother for her adolescent years, she is forced into a loveless marriage to a farmer, Logan Killicks who forces her to abide to all of his commands. After meeting the charming Joe Starks, Janie courageously leaves her unfulfilling marriage to Logan to live a life with Joe in Eatonville, Florida, the first Black Society in the United States. At first she is pleased with her life as the Mayor’s wife and all of the materialistic perks that comes with it, yet soon becomes trapped in her husband’s pride and control issues. Joe reveals numerous sexist traits and treats Janie as an object, not allowing her to speak for herself or build relationships with the townspeople on her terms. Once Joe grows older, he is forced to his deathbed and Janie’s last words with him are spent sharing her bottled thoughts about their dysfunctional marriage. Following Joe’s death, Janie lives happily as a widow until she meets an adventurous, younger man named Tea Cake. With him, Janie finally finds the true love she had searched for since she had seen the bee in the pear tree, and the two happily work in the Everglades, becoming acquainted with the other workers. In the midst of their joyful lives together, a ferocious hurricane strikes wiping out the majority of the people in the Everglades. In attempt to flee the storm and rescue Janie from a violent dog, Tea Cake is bitten and diagnosed with rabies. With brutal effects from his sickness, including paranoia and belligerence towards Janie, she is forced to shoot her only true love. The novel concludes with Janie returning home to Eatonville and sharing her tragic story to a friend of