Their Eyes Were Watching God
Summary: Well, this story begins with the protagonist in the novel, Janie Crawford. This young African American woman had been through many experiences throughout her life, and the only one to tell it to was her best friend, Pheoby Watson. The story takes into play when Janie Crawford had previously been away with her third and last husband in Jacksonville. One important note that is made is that the women of Eatonville, Florida gossip about Janie and wonder what had happened to Tea Cake who was her third and last husband. As Janie is telling of her experiences to Phoeby, she also mentions that her mother fell into the negative world view, or so she messed up her thinking of the world and made it negative. With this in mind, Janie was raised with her grandmother after her mother ran off. Janie was never really happy, her mother had always wanted her to marry to a nice man that would give her a good social status and support her financially. With her mother’s desire in mind, it happened. Janie moved in with an old farmer, whose name was Logan Killcks, and this man treated poorly and without respect. With her unhappiness on the farm, she finds herself flirting with a man that was walking past the farm, and his name was Joe Starks who she eventually runs off with and marries. As they move to Eatonville, Jody, as Janie calls him, gets a job as the mayor, and does not allow Janie to interact with the “common” people. As their boring and non-indulging life carries on for two decades, Janie gets sick of it and decides to stop dealing with him in front of the townspeople and insults him till the cows came home and he beats her. She later visits Jody on his death bed and berates him, he dies. The funeral helped her regain a new sense of independence and wonder. After nine months of their marriage, Janie finds a more attractive and more appealing man named Tea Cake, and soon marries him. When in the first week of their marriage when Tea Cake steals money from her, she suddenly rethinks the entire situation. When they move to the Everglades and his wit and friendliness make Janie more comfortable. After two years of their marriage, a hurricane arrives and a rabid dog bites Tea Cake and during his illness, he is convinced that Janie is cheating on her and so starts firing a pistol at her and shoots him to protect herself. When Janie is brought to court, the court finds her not guilty. After the chaos in her life, she returns to Eatonville, Florida and that is where the story ends with the town women gossiping and Janie telling of her experiences to Pheoby.
Summary: Well, this story begins with the protagonist in the novel, Janie Crawford. This young African American woman had been through many experiences throughout her life, and the only one to tell it to was her best friend, Pheoby Watson. The story takes into play when Janie Crawford had previously been away with her third and last husband in Jacksonville. One important note that is made is that the women of Eatonville, Florida gossip about Janie and wonder what had happened to Tea Cake who was her third and last husband. As Janie is telling of her experiences to Phoeby, she also mentions that her mother fell into the negative world view, or so she messed up her thinking of the world and made it negative. With this in mind, Janie was raised with her grandmother after her mother ran off. Janie was never really happy, her mother had always wanted her to marry to a nice man that would give her a good social status and support her financially. With her mother’s desire in mind, it happened. Janie moved in with an old farmer, whose name was Logan Killcks, and this man treated poorly and without respect. With her unhappiness on the farm, she finds herself flirting with a man that was walking past the farm, and his name was Joe Starks who she eventually runs off with and marries. As they move to Eatonville, Jody, as Janie calls him, gets a job as the mayor, and does not allow Janie to interact with the “common” people. As their boring and non-indulging life carries on for two decades, Janie gets sick of it and decides to stop dealing with him in front of the townspeople and insults him till the cows came home and he beats her. She later visits Jody on his death bed and berates him, he dies. The funeral helped her regain a new sense of independence and wonder. After nine months of their marriage, Janie finds a more attractive and more appealing man named Tea Cake, and soon marries him. When in the first week of their marriage when Tea Cake steals money from her, she suddenly rethinks the entire situation. When they move to the Everglades and his wit and friendliness make Janie more comfortable. After two years of their marriage, a hurricane arrives and a rabid dog bites Tea Cake and during his illness, he is convinced that Janie is cheating on her and so starts firing a pistol at her and shoots him to protect herself. When Janie is brought to court, the court finds her not guilty. After the chaos in her life, she returns to Eatonville, Florida and that is where the story ends with the town women gossiping and Janie telling of her experiences to Pheoby.
Characters:
Janie Crawford- a very beautiful African American that goes from man to man to realize that she was ultimately the happiest by herself. Although her confidence is high, her lack of outspoken communication to the very men that treated her poorly suggests that she is a very passive character. Janie's influence comes much from her mother and her negativity towards society. With this after all of her three husbands, her curiosity and her spilling out independence give her the realization that she needs to be on her own and away from men. Although it may seem that she was a "submissive" wife, it is perfectly evident that she was unhappy.
Tea Cake- Although it did not work out with him in the end, Tea Cake was ultimately the best and last choice as a husband for Janie. This man was funny and friendly; however, when he decides to steal from Janie in the first week of their marriage, he says that he is not a thief and that he really does love her. Tea Cake is in Janie's life for the purpose of helping her and letting her be who she wants to be; although this changes when she obviously shoots him, he was the best choice as far as a husband goes.
Joe Starks- Jody Starks is the total opposite of Tea Cake; when it is revealed that he is very conceited, rude, controlling, and wants everything to be perfect, Janie gets the idea that Jody is definitely something that she does not want and ultimately realizes that he is in fact concerned about what others think of him and especially when Janie was his wife. With this, Janie calls him out on everything that he actually was and he is suddenly portrayed by the reader as abusive and ignorant. This man in my mind was meant to be the very image of Janie's mother and how she wanted Janie to be something better than what she was.
Janie Crawford- a very beautiful African American that goes from man to man to realize that she was ultimately the happiest by herself. Although her confidence is high, her lack of outspoken communication to the very men that treated her poorly suggests that she is a very passive character. Janie's influence comes much from her mother and her negativity towards society. With this after all of her three husbands, her curiosity and her spilling out independence give her the realization that she needs to be on her own and away from men. Although it may seem that she was a "submissive" wife, it is perfectly evident that she was unhappy.
Tea Cake- Although it did not work out with him in the end, Tea Cake was ultimately the best and last choice as a husband for Janie. This man was funny and friendly; however, when he decides to steal from Janie in the first week of their marriage, he says that he is not a thief and that he really does love her. Tea Cake is in Janie's life for the purpose of helping her and letting her be who she wants to be; although this changes when she obviously shoots him, he was the best choice as far as a husband goes.
Joe Starks- Jody Starks is the total opposite of Tea Cake; when it is revealed that he is very conceited, rude, controlling, and wants everything to be perfect, Janie gets the idea that Jody is definitely something that she does not want and ultimately realizes that he is in fact concerned about what others think of him and especially when Janie was his wife. With this, Janie calls him out on everything that he actually was and he is suddenly portrayed by the reader as abusive and ignorant. This man in my mind was meant to be the very image of Janie's mother and how she wanted Janie to be something better than what she was.
Setting:
The setting itself takes place in the following: West Florida, Eatonville, and the Everglades during the early 1900's. The slave culture has already passed when Janie is telling of her experiences to Pheoby. Although it was over by the time she began to tell, it did affect her in many ways because of her mother and grandmother having so much pressure on her about living differently- as an African American. The traveling itself that takes place describes the very happiness and unhappiness that she has, especially with different men. As she progresses throughout husbands and locations, I also feel that her confidence, security, and loneliness do too. When Janie and Tea Cake are both in the Everglades, the hurricane provides the perfect setting for that moment of truth from God- which is presented through nature as a sign of warning and love, (although it may not seem that way at first). The fact that she had to kill Tea Cake in order to live presents the perfect setting for Independence and realization in herself, also I think it important to note that the hurricane was supposed to be a sign of realization and reality to Janie, and the fact that the setting had to be a hurricane in order for her to realize that she needed to be alone just goes to show that sometimes mountains have to be moved in order to physically see the despair and pain that you are going through in your own eyes. The many different urban areas that she lives in describe her very nature.
The setting itself takes place in the following: West Florida, Eatonville, and the Everglades during the early 1900's. The slave culture has already passed when Janie is telling of her experiences to Pheoby. Although it was over by the time she began to tell, it did affect her in many ways because of her mother and grandmother having so much pressure on her about living differently- as an African American. The traveling itself that takes place describes the very happiness and unhappiness that she has, especially with different men. As she progresses throughout husbands and locations, I also feel that her confidence, security, and loneliness do too. When Janie and Tea Cake are both in the Everglades, the hurricane provides the perfect setting for that moment of truth from God- which is presented through nature as a sign of warning and love, (although it may not seem that way at first). The fact that she had to kill Tea Cake in order to live presents the perfect setting for Independence and realization in herself, also I think it important to note that the hurricane was supposed to be a sign of realization and reality to Janie, and the fact that the setting had to be a hurricane in order for her to realize that she needed to be alone just goes to show that sometimes mountains have to be moved in order to physically see the despair and pain that you are going through in your own eyes. The many different urban areas that she lives in describe her very nature.
Types of Conflict:
The types of conflict that are perfectly evident are in fact man versus man, man versus self, man versus society, and man versus nature. In the man versus man, this is seen because Janie is stuck between these three men that she is with throughout her life that all treat her differently, so the matter is that Janie is tossed around with men for example like Logan Killcks who wasn't even romantic, nice, or even appealing. Or, there was Jody Starks who was very appealing at first but turned out to be a control obsessive freak who was abusive. And then lastly you have Tea Cake who was appealing from start to finish for the most part but did not end up respecting Janie but always let her be who she was and was laid back. In man versus self, Janie has to battle her own mind and her own temptations about others and herself; although she is a confident woman, she faces the opportunity to be perfectly blunt to her husbands and to tell them how she really feels. Along with that she faces the racism of her life that is brought upon her by people that do not approve of her race. In man versus society, Janie faces the reality that people do not accept her and her race so therefore she has to live with gossiping women of Florida and tune them out; also, she has to face her mother having a negative view on society and her grandmother as well. In man versus nature, Janie is faced with the hardships of moving from place to place as she remarries. Most importantly, it does not end well with her last husband because the hurricane is like a sign from God about not being in a relationship. Although she ends up killing him, the memory of the places that she lived in will always be there, especially where it happened.
The types of conflict that are perfectly evident are in fact man versus man, man versus self, man versus society, and man versus nature. In the man versus man, this is seen because Janie is stuck between these three men that she is with throughout her life that all treat her differently, so the matter is that Janie is tossed around with men for example like Logan Killcks who wasn't even romantic, nice, or even appealing. Or, there was Jody Starks who was very appealing at first but turned out to be a control obsessive freak who was abusive. And then lastly you have Tea Cake who was appealing from start to finish for the most part but did not end up respecting Janie but always let her be who she was and was laid back. In man versus self, Janie has to battle her own mind and her own temptations about others and herself; although she is a confident woman, she faces the opportunity to be perfectly blunt to her husbands and to tell them how she really feels. Along with that she faces the racism of her life that is brought upon her by people that do not approve of her race. In man versus society, Janie faces the reality that people do not accept her and her race so therefore she has to live with gossiping women of Florida and tune them out; also, she has to face her mother having a negative view on society and her grandmother as well. In man versus nature, Janie is faced with the hardships of moving from place to place as she remarries. Most importantly, it does not end well with her last husband because the hurricane is like a sign from God about not being in a relationship. Although she ends up killing him, the memory of the places that she lived in will always be there, especially where it happened.
Major Themes:
Three major themes that I see are Marriage relationships versus Independence, which would be the fact that Janie's martial relationships all never work out, and when she thinks that she wants independence, she runs from it and goes to another man. Her independence is something that she doesn't really recognize until the ending of her second marriage, and with this she becomes stronger and stronger in each relationship. Although marriage is for some people, many people are also very independent and are happy that way. Another theme that I see is the power that men have; which more specifically, it would be the idea that women cannot speak up and that they are required to listen and submit themselves to the men. For example, the control that Logan Killcks at the beginning of the story, I mean he wasn't nice, respectful, he was bland, boring, and unromantic, and with this Janie didn't even make contact to tell him that she was leaving, she just left with another man. Lastly, the theme that is evident is how Janie is able to be silence versus speech within the relationships; the fact that Janie is in her first relationship is very quiet, but then in her second relationship she gets a little better by yelling and embarrassing Jody in front of his townspeople, and then lastly, with Tea Cake, she ends up killing him based on her survival.
Three major themes that I see are Marriage relationships versus Independence, which would be the fact that Janie's martial relationships all never work out, and when she thinks that she wants independence, she runs from it and goes to another man. Her independence is something that she doesn't really recognize until the ending of her second marriage, and with this she becomes stronger and stronger in each relationship. Although marriage is for some people, many people are also very independent and are happy that way. Another theme that I see is the power that men have; which more specifically, it would be the idea that women cannot speak up and that they are required to listen and submit themselves to the men. For example, the control that Logan Killcks at the beginning of the story, I mean he wasn't nice, respectful, he was bland, boring, and unromantic, and with this Janie didn't even make contact to tell him that she was leaving, she just left with another man. Lastly, the theme that is evident is how Janie is able to be silence versus speech within the relationships; the fact that Janie is in her first relationship is very quiet, but then in her second relationship she gets a little better by yelling and embarrassing Jody in front of his townspeople, and then lastly, with Tea Cake, she ends up killing him based on her survival.
Major Symbols:
The major symbols that are relevant in the novel are Janie's marriages, which portrays the destruction of her independence but then experience for her life, the hurricane which portrays the destruction of her last marriage and a sign from God to return to her Independence and the reality of her well-being and treatment of how other people treat her. Lastly, I think her best friend is an important role in the novel because she is the only person that does not do her wrong and respects Janie and I feel that Pheoby is a part of Janie's dignity in her life and keeps her on track.
The major symbols that are relevant in the novel are Janie's marriages, which portrays the destruction of her independence but then experience for her life, the hurricane which portrays the destruction of her last marriage and a sign from God to return to her Independence and the reality of her well-being and treatment of how other people treat her. Lastly, I think her best friend is an important role in the novel because she is the only person that does not do her wrong and respects Janie and I feel that Pheoby is a part of Janie's dignity in her life and keeps her on track.
"Their Eyes Were Watching God Trailer." YouTube. YouTube, 31 Mar. 2011.
Web. 28 Mar. 2013. (video)
"African American
Women's History.": "Their Eyes Were Watching God" N.p., n.d. Web. 27
Mar. 2013. (Picture)
"Their Eyes Were
Watching God Questions." Where and When Does the Novel Take Place? -.
N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2013.
"Their Eyes
Were Watching God." SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2013
Web. 28 Mar. 2013. (video)
"African American
Women's History.": "Their Eyes Were Watching God" N.p., n.d. Web. 27
Mar. 2013. (Picture)
"Their Eyes Were
Watching God Questions." Where and When Does the Novel Take Place? -.
N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2013.
"Their Eyes
Were Watching God." SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2013