Rereading Their Eyes Were Watching God

A friend and I are rereading our 5 star books. While recently rereading The Color Purple, I saw pieces of Zora Neale Hurston in Alice Walker's writing and story. It made me want to reread Their Eyes Were Watching God. So we did, here is my reflection.

I first gave Their Eyes Were Watching God four stars of five. I will promote it to five of five stars. I want and need to reread it again, maybe next year. The story is very rich. A lot richer than The Color Purple. Maybe it isn't fair to compare them, but I read them back to back. Walker's story is very much on the surface. There are twists, great characters, character arcs, redemption, and a happy ending. The frame of the story is a diary the main character writes to God. The simplicity of the story is partially the simplicity of the main character, not intended as a criticism. The point of view works for the story and it kept its five stars on my reread. But I doubt I'll reread The Color Purple again.

Their Eyes Were Watching God can also be enjoyed and read on the surface. The dialogue, dialects, and idioms can make for a slower and tougher read. But it's worth it. The dialogues are a lot f fun and the side characters are funnier and more interesting. Hurston captures a time and place in Florida. Without giving much history, she is showing history. I understand and feel the time period in Hurston's novel. There is also more imagery and descriptive prose. Hurston's writing is fresh. There is a lot more between the lines and inside the text for closer readers. I love writers and stories that keep pulling back ad rewarding rereads. In addition, my friend and I have been debating the characters, plot, and ideas. That alone suggests five stars to me.

The main character has been criticized for decades. Hurtson, the author, was blamed for not being feminist enough or not doing x for black people. It's very ironic to read some the the criticisms. I would strongly suggest readers pair Hurston's autobiography or essays with this novel. Hurston was an independent woman and free thinker. Hurston was very interested in telling and recording the stories of black people. I really like Hurston. She was very smart. She was a great writer. She had a fun personality.

Janie, the protagonist, is a complex character. Criticism of Janie, or Hurtson, highlight a naivety of the criticizer.

Slight Spoiler Warning

Janie spends most of her life tryng to conform to her Grandmother's ideals. Janie is the second generation product of rape. She's very light skinned. She marries 3 times. Her second husband wants Janie to be his trophy wife for the city he is founding. Janie is the first lady of Eatonville. She's wealthier and higher status than all the women she knows, but she hates her life. When she realizes her role doesn't involve love and companionship, she becomes cold and distant. When she finds out she can hurt her husband with her words, he hurts her with his hands.

When her second husband dies, she is reborn. She has wealth and freedom. She can pick any man she wants or no man at all. What does she pick? Tea Cake a younger charismatic lowest class black man. He gambles, knife fights, and eventually beats Janie over his jealousy. Still Janie loves Tea Cake. She follows and adores him. But unlike her second marriage, Janie does so by her choosing. Tea Cake doesn't and can't force her. She is free.

There is a lot more to the story. You should read it.

It's not clear what to make of Janie or Tea Cake. What does Janie learn? What should readers think of Tea Cake? What should readers think of the violence? Why are they watching God?

I hope to investigate this question closer on my next read.