Their Eyes Were Watching God: Comprehension and Analysis Blog

   hurston

November 12, 2005 @ 3:41 pm

Although the Foreword does not help further a reader’s understanding who has yet to read the novel, it will provide a good foundation to build on and a reference. As Nicole pointed out, it is important to note that Janie is a character many female readers, of all ethnicities, found a symbol of strength and self-actualization. However, when the novel opens Janie is young and naive. This background information and understanding of previous readers’ interpretation will help a first time reader trace Janie’s character development. In addition, Nicole established that the novel does incorporate allegorical elements. Remember an allegory is a narrative that serves as an extended metaphor. Allegories are written in the form of fables, parables, poems, stories, and almost any other style or genre. It is important to be conscious of the fact that Hurston integrates many elements of storytelling throughout the larger structure of the novel. Pay attention when ‘smaller’ stories are told within the larger frame of the story. They are note simply filler. An author, especially, is extremely strategic in her/his content. Try to interpret the symbolism of the story and understand how it creates a larger allegorical implication. “The main purpose of an allegory is to tell a story that has characters, a setting, as well as other types of symbols, which have both literal and figurative meanings. The difference between an allegory and a symbol is that an allegory is a complete narrative that conveys abstract ideas to get a point across, while a symbol is a representation of an idea or concept that can have a different meaning throughout a literary work” (A Handbook to Literature, Merriam Webster’s Encyclopedia of Literature. Machella Caldwell, Student, University of North Carolina at Pembroke). Finally, I would like to clarify Nicole’s statement, “Washington states this novel is about “a woman on a quest for her own identity and… her journey would take her, not away from, but deeper and deeper into blackness” (Washington ix).” This can be easily confused due to our Peeling the Onion Unit’s focus on the devil and darkness imagery. However, Washington is referring to Blackness, the culture and ethnicity of African Americans. Given the social and historical context of the novel, why would this be significant and revolutionary? I am interested to revisit this concept as we progress through the reading, particularly when Janie and Tea Cake travel to the ‘Glades. Minor characters have symbolic relevance to this ‘issue’.

-Ms. Small

   hurston

November 13, 2005 @ 2:46 am

To attempt to answer Ms. Small’s question, I believe Janie’s “decsent into blackness” is very revolutionary for its time becasue all of the books we have read so far this year, which really only includes The Bluest Eye, portray the black struggle to fit in or at least live reasonalby successfully in a society domianted by whites and racism. In The Bluest Eye, the standards of white beauty are too much for Pecola Breedlove and her mother, and ultimately destroy Pecola. Though The Bluest Eye showed many southern African-American traditions, I get the sense that Their Eyes delves much deeper, espcecially since Janie lives in a colored town run by a black mayor. I thought the issue of whether or not Janie had found her voice, since she doesn’t speak directly in the courtroom scene at the end, that Mary Helen Washington brought up in the Foreword was really interesting. Having only read the Foreword and the first 2 chapters of the novel so far, I didn’t really know exactly what the theme of the story was. The back of the book mentions how Janie learns that everyone must “go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin’ fuh theyselves”, so I knew that she was going on a journey to find herself. Anyway I’d like to pose a question: Do you think the death of Janie’s grandmother provide a new beginning for Janie?

-Sarah-Claire

   hurston

November 13, 2005 @ 3:58 pm

In response to Ms. Small’s question about blackness as a revolutionary symbol, I would like to point out the time in which this is occuring. The 1920’s and 30’s served as a turning point for black americans. Although not on the level of the black power movement of the 60’s, the Harlem Renaissance was undeniably the foundation for later achievements. This important era, “Exalted the unique culture of African-Americans, and redefined African American expression. At the heart of Harlem Renaissance is the transformation of the term ‘black,’ from a tool of opression (i.e. blackface) to a sense of pride. With this context in mind, I believe that Washinton’s statements about a journey, “Deeper and deeper into blackness,” at heart depicts a journey deeper and deeper into a sense of self-pride.

-Steven Greco

   hurston

November 13, 2005 @ 8:51 pm

I agree with both Steve and Sarah Claire about their answers to Miss Small’s question. The time period that the book is written in, as pointed out by Steve, is the 20’s and 30’s which as he said was a very influential time for African-Americans. During the 20’s and 30’s many Africans were begining to flee the south and move north to try to escape racial descrimination. Many of them would not find this relief and this is where I believe Washingtons quote about “blackness” comes into affect. As they moved north they began to gain hope in a new life and they were less self-concious and more proud of their culture. As their dreams were not becoming true, some of the black people were falling into depression or as Washington said “deeper and deeper into blackness.” So basically my answer would be very similar to Steves because I believe that blackness is going to represent self pride in this novel.

-JC

   hurston

November 14, 2005 @ 2:24 am

After reading the forword, I would have to agree with all of the statements made so far. It does seem as if the main focus of the novel is that of an all African-American community working and being run by all African-Americans. I also agree with the idea that the story focuses on the women holding power, and not doing as they are told by men. It seems like the main focus is on young Janie, and her quest or journey to self-realization. As Ms. Small said Janie starts out the novel as young and naieve, but after reading the foreward, it seems as if towards the end of the novel, in the jury scene, that Janie might have matured and come to her self-realization. My idea of her self-realization is that she finds herself, but also God. This idea comes from the quote in the foreward, “They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin’ fuh theyselves” (Hurston). I also liked Steves point that going “deeper and deeper into darkness” had to do with ones pride. I feel as if it does have to do with ones pride, but pride in the African-American culture, which is represented by the “darkness”.

- Hunter

   hurston

November 14, 2005 @ 2:29 am

As previously stated by a few of my classmates, the time frame in which this novel takes place is a monumental piece in African American culture. This time frame is one in which African Americans supposedly left the hardships of southern life for what promised to be a new beginning in the north. However, that promise went unfulfilled. African Americans were unable to escape the descrimination that they had been forced to endure up to this point in time. When Washington states, “her journey would take her, not away from, but deeper and deeper into blackness…” she is saying that although the reason for fleeing the south was to make a change for the better that was not so. However, this statment can be seen another way. The “blackness” not only represents the hardships, but the advances in the culture of African Americans. Janie represents strength of determination of the entire Arfican American race during that time. The culture becomes deeper than ever, and perhaps when it is all said and done, that is what matters more than the hardships they were forced to struggle through at that time. The fact that the culture had been firmly established paved the way for the African American race of the future.

-Chris DeBellis

   hurston

November 14, 2005 @ 2:42 am

I also agree with most of what was stated, and will try not to repeat everything they have said. I am glad that this story has other aspects to it besides racism, such as the status of women. This is a subject that has never been the main focus of our class before and i find it more interesting then racism. A lot of the ideas that were talked about in the forward passed right over my head because they all relate to parts of the story that we have not read yet. Most of the points made though seem interesting and I am waiting to get to those parts of the story. Within the forward, the narrator mentions that Alice Walker visited the grave that she thought was Hurston’s. I thought that this was very nice of her, and I think that no one deserves to be buried in an unmarked grave. My answer to Ms. Small’s question, is that going deeper into blackness could mean that she is more accepting of being African. Maybe in the begining of the story she is feeling like she needs blue eyes and white skin, but by the end, she accepts her skin color, and has pride about it. She understands her role in life, and is going to life it out and be proud about it. - Andrew Portolese

EDIT: To everyone that forgot their name on their post, you can just push the little edit this link at the top of your comment and then change the post. That way you do not need to add another comment. 

   hurston

November 14, 2005 @ 4:59 am

After reading the foreword, I was glad to learn that not only is this a novel that focuses on the rich history of African Americans, but more specifically a black woman. African Americans and women both have had to fight for freedom and rights so I am glad to read a novel that combines the two. And to address Washington’s quote; “a woman on a quest for her own identity and… her journey would take her, not away from, but deeper and deeper into blackness.” I think that as the novel progresses and Janie gets older and experiences more, that she will be more aware of her history and what her ancestors experienced with slavery. On her journey she will learn to embrace her blackness and everything that has made her who she is. I agree with previous posts that she will come to a self realization.

Rachel*

   hurston

November 15, 2005 @ 5:42 pm

To revert back to Nicole’s question, I believe TEWWG and the descent into blackness actually is similar to the story of “Young Goodman Brown.” He too was confused about his identity, just like Janie and Flash. He ventures into the woods and ends up descending deeper and deeper into the secrets of his own culture, just like Janie learns about her culture. Though I do acknowledge that there is the distinct difference that Young Goodman was lured into the woods by Devil, wher as Janie goes on the journey of her own free will
Something else that has struck me is that this book was written during the Harlem Renaissance when most blacks were moving North. However, Janie instead descends deeper into the South. I think this is another way she descends “deeper into blackness.”
To touch on the allegory mentioned by Nicole and Ms. Small, I do believe that this story is an allegory. I think that the men represent oppresion and denial of rights. It is supposed to be a time of liberation because (especially with the Harlem Renaissance) black people were building their culture up, and making themselves stronger. Yet the women, represented by Janie, are still clearly prohibited from enjoying much freedom. The men represent the strict oppresion of the past, and Janie represents a new age of freedom. I think that that message of freedom is another aspect that makes this book quite revoltionary for its time. A black woman creating a black herione who just runs around wherever she pleases? This suggests that Zora Neale Hurston may indeed be closely tied to Janie, because it looks like together they were breaking down the mold of what a black woman should be.
-Kara Buchan

   hurston

November 16, 2005 @ 1:04 am

After reading the beginning chapters of the novel, I have to agree with the statements made by everyone. I just wanted to elaborate on Rachel’s statement about how the novel focuses not only on the struggle of African Americans, but also the struggle for women’s rights. From the beginning of the book, it is known that Janie is living in a period of prejudice against colored people. But, also from the beginning of the novel, it is also known that Janie is opressed because she is a woman. I believe that as the Janie’s story progresses, she will become even stronger then she has proved to be so far. It seems as though she is on a journey, as in many of the stories we have read so far this year, to “find” herself, and to answer the questions she has about life. Her strength and growth is already shown just in the first couple chapters, and it seems that she will advance in her journey and grow stronger as the novel progrsses.
-Lauren

   hurston

November 22, 2005 @ 11:03 pm

I thought that it was interesting that Ms. Small talked about self-actualization in her comment. Originally, I had interpreted the quote, “her journey would take her, not away from, but deeper and deeper into blackness” (Washington ix),” to be a reference to the devil, like seen in “Young Goodman Brown.” However, when you look at blackness as a cultural revolution, then you could view blackness as cultural actualization. Since Janie is light-skinned, she has been held above many others in black society. What I think Washington means by this quote is that Janie will learn more and more about black culture and become more of a part of it. So, based on this quote, this story will be about Janie “going back to her roots” and laerning what black culture is about.
-Ariel

   hurston

November 29, 2005 @ 1:30 am

In response to Ms. Small’s question about blackness, I believe that this can be connected to our reading of “My Father Sits in the Dark”. In that story, we found that the young man moved literally from the light of the room to the darkness, which his father knew. Yet figuratively, the young man was moving from the darkness of ignorance into the light of acceptance and understanding. Maybe this is foreshadowing Janie’s ascent from a “dark” region in which she lives her life towards a “lighter” place in which she can truly find herself and live the way she wants to live instead of under the darkness of her past. As for the historical element to this metaphor, maybe the darkness of the 1920s and 1930s for the blacks will “light” Janie’s way to the future that she wants. Her past oppression may be just the thing she needs to pull through whatever lies ahead of her on her path of life.
–Nicole Gollmer–