Their Eyes Were Watching God

A really nice coming of age story that follows the life of an African American woman in Zora Neale Hurston’s  Their Eyes Were Watching God.  The main character is Janie Crawford and she tells her life journey to her best friend, Pheoby, in an effort that she can share it with others, the noisy neighbors!  The story is set in the lower parts of Florida in the beginning of the 1900s.  Janie is born from a sexual assault of her mother by her school teacher.  Janie is left to be raised by her grandmother who attempts to raise her in the best way she can by influencing her to marry well to better her situation.  This leads to the first of three marriages for Janie.  Each of the three men is very different.  Marriage number one, the “arranged marriage by granny,” is to Logan Killicks, an older farmer.  Will money lead to love… not quite.  Especially when Logan is really looking for another farmhand, which leads to Janie running away with Joe Starks.  He takes her away to Eatonville and opens up a general store and he becomes the “mayor” of the town.  Joe wants Janie as the “picture perfect mayor’s trophy wife," then sadness, Joe dies and leaves Janie with a store and lots of eligible men who want her.  During this time she falls in love with Vergible Woods, aka Tea Cake.  They leave town, selling the store and head to Jacksonville and marriage three is in place.  Finally Janie realizes she has now found the love of her life.  The happy life turns sad when Tea Cake is bitten by a rabid dog trying to save Janie.  After he contracts the disease he starts to go crazy and attempts to shoot her, but, in a move of self-defense, Janie shoots him.  Tea Cake dies and Janie is brought to trial for his murder.  She is acquitted and eventually returns to Eatonville where her former neighbors spread rumors about her.  Gender roles, life as an African American in the South, the role of women subservient to males, and the various types of marriages in that time are examined by a complex woman searching for her voice and needs story.  Hurston’s literary skills illustrate the true plight of women in the day.  I appreciated the context of the characters and the storyline.  It was an easy read that kept me drawn to Janie’s difficult life.  I understand the praise for this one.