Themes: Christian Themes

In The Sermon and the African American Literary Tradition(1995), Doland Hubbard has argued that African Americans were forced to redefine Christian experience to make it applicable to their particular experience in the United States. White Christians had argued that slavery was justified by the Bible and later that segregation and Jim Crow laws were biblically ordained through the stories of Cain and Abel and of Noah’s descendants. African...

Themes: Search for Self

Although the novel follows Janie's journey through three relationships, most critics contend that the primary theme is her quest for self-identity. Janie must resist her grandmother's influence, which encourages her to prioritize security over personal fulfillment, as well as the stifling effects of her first two husbands on her growth. Joe Starks, her second husband, is particularly obstructive to her development. His middle-class aspirations...

Themes: Language and Meaning

At the heart of Janie's journey toward self-discovery is her desire to become a person who speaks her mind. In the novel, language is depicted as the means through which an individual gains full acceptance in the community and achieves complete humanity. In Eatonville, the men partake in "eternal arguments . . . a contest in hyperbole and carried on for no other reason." These verbal exchanges are the town's main activities, yet only men are...

Themes: Race and Racism

While the novel rarely delves into the dynamics between white and Black people, it vividly illustrates how racism and class inequalities infiltrate the Black community. The assumed biological and cultural superiority of whiteness overshadows the lives of all the Black characters. Janie notices the moral decline in those who prioritize whiteness above their own Black identity. When Janie encounters Joe Starks, he is on his way to Eatonville,...

Themes: Narration

Although Janie shares her story with Pheoby, making it seem like her tale, it is not told in the first person. Instead, a third-person omniscient narrator delivers most of the story, leading to much discussion about whose perspective this truly represents. Claire Crabtree, in the Southern Literary Journal, argues that this narrative voice is “always close to but not identical with Janie’s consciousness.” This suggests that the narrator, who...

Themes: Folklore

A notable feature of Their Eyes Were Watching Godis its unique combination of folklore and fiction. Hurston weaves elements from the Black rural oral tradition—something she researched extensively as an anthropologist—into her writing, giving precedence to this tradition over Western literary conventions. For example, she uses the folkloric method of repeating elements in threes to depict Janie's three marriages. Claire Crabtree observes that...

Themes: Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance, which blossomed in Harlem during the 1920s and continued to thrive into the 1930s, was a dynamic era of artistic and intellectual creativity among Black Americans. This movement highlighted the achievements of Black intellectuals and artists. Initially, writers of the Harlem Renaissance sought to challenge racism and convince the white public that Black Americans were far more intelligent than the prevailing stereotypes of...

Themes: Self-Discovery

The theme of self-discovery is central to Their Eyes Were Watching God, as Janie Crawford embarks on a journey to find her own identity and voice. Through her relationships with three different husbands, Janie learns about love, independence, and her own desires, ultimately achieving a sense of self-realization and empowerment.

Janie's first marriage to Logan Killicks is arranged by her grandmother, Nanny, who prioritizes security over love. Janie...

Themes: Independence

The theme of independence is central to Their Eyes Were Watching God. The novel follows Janie Crawford's journey toward self-realization and autonomy. Throughout her life, Janie seeks to break free from societal and marital constraints, striving to fulfill her dreams and gain control over her destiny. Her quest for independence is symbolized by the horizon, representing the boundary between the known and the unknown, the tangible and the dreamt.

In...

Themes: Feminism

Their Eyes Were Watching Godexplores the theme of feminism through the journey of its protagonist, Janie Crawford. As a black woman in the early 20th century, Janie's quest for identity and autonomy is central to the narrative. Despite societal constraints and oppressive relationships, Janie strives for self-discovery and independence, making her a pioneering figure in feminist literature. The novel portrays her resilience against male...