Written in 1931, “Their Eyes Were Watching God” is a novel with a message that still resonates more than 70 years later.
The story line centers around the life of Janie Crawford as she searches for true love and inner peace. Her struggles, triumphs, dreams and pain are still a reality for many women in today’s society. The book’s author, Zora Neale Hurston, was a literary pioneer for African-American women.
The book opens with Janie returning to her hometown of Eatonville, Florida one and a half years after she left on a quest to find real love and self actualization. Her best friend Phoeby is ecstatic to see her safe return and invites herself over to Janie’s place to catch up on lost time. Phoeby’s curiosity entices Janie to reveal her life’s journey, beginning with her recollection of her childhood experiences that would change her life.
Readers learn that at age 15 Janie married Logan Killicks, a man twice her age, upon the request of her grandmother. Janie an optimist is determined to find love within her marriage regardless of how hard it was. As the story continues on, Janie’s marriage has ended. Later, she meets a stylish city slicker, who resurrects her dream of finding love.
One week after meeting Joe Sparks, Janie elopes with him to go with him to fulfill his dream of becoming a Mayor in a small town that would be know as Eatonville, Florida. But once again, the marriage doesn’t work out. After 23 years of marriage to Sparks, Janie came to the same conclusion as before – marriage and love are two different things. Sparks dies and Janie is “free.”
Not long after the death of her husband, Janie meets a young man named Tea Cakes. Tea Cakes is an adventurous and fun man who sweeps Janie off her feet. Janie and Tea Cakes leave Eatonville to start a new life together. During their time together, Janie is finally able to see and feel what true love is.
Janie has finally realized her dreams in Tea Cakes, but he dies of rabies after saving Janie’s life. With Tea Cakes gone, Janie now finds herself alone once again with only memories of love and inner peace.
I truly recommend this book as well as any other literature penned by Hurston, a master storyteller whose universal themes of love, freedom and independence transcend time.