Relating the Title to the Novel and Novelist in "Their Eyes Were Watching God"

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In Zora Neale Hurston's novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, there are many major points in the novel that reflect the meaning of the title. Hurston seems to relate God to love and life and this could be one reason why a book about love and self-realization would have a title relating to a higher power. The title also reflects a sense of lacking control over the outcome and direction of life. Through Janie's experience with Teacake and one of the major turning points in the novel, the hurricane, the reader can see the relevance of the title to the novel as well as the novelist.

Janie's relationship with Teacake is the area in the novel where references to God begin to emerge. Janie associates God with love as many people do, calling on religion only in the best and worse times of life. The first two thirds of the novel does not have many points in which God seems relevant to Janie's life. This all changes when Janie falls in love because she feels like she needs to thank God for bringing Janie and Teacake together. The hurricane scene is one area in the novel where love and the relationship between God and nature is brought up. When the hurricane is worsening in severity Teacake guiltily asks Janie if she wishes she were back in her big house instead of with him. Janie feels that "God opened de door" when He brought Teacake into her life (236). Janie also makes reference to God and love when Teacake starts to worsened from the rabies he contracted after getting bit by the dog in the hurricane. Janie tells an ill Teacake "Ah jus' know dat God snatched me out de fire though you" (267). Here it is obvious that Janie believes God is in control and brought Teacake to her to make her life better. It is interesting tha...

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...ly controllable without realizing God's influence over all of existence.

Through Janie's experiences and feelings regarding the love of her life, his death, and the hurricane, it is obvious that Hurston meant for the reader to relate self-realization with questioning God. Although God is not a dominant theme in the novel, it is likely that Hurston was mirroring the people she came into contact with throughout her endeavors as a folklorist. Perhaps God was not an everyday part of her people's lives, but when there was a problem with love or nature was impacting their lives God was certainly a significant and appropriate part of their lives. This title and the novel reflect one woman's journey to discover life and love while realizing God's presence through it all and immortalizes the way many people in Hurston's time must have felt regarding God and nature.

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