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Their Eyes Were Watching God Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Their Eyes Were Watching God


The story is about the marriages of Janie Crawford. A very attractive woman, she was raised by her grandmother and her grandmothers very old ideals. Coming from a long line of slaves, her grandmother wanted nothing more for Janie than to get married to a man that would take care of her and protect, leaving love only as a secondary idea in a marriage.
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Her first marriage was arranged and short, for not too long after she was first married she met a much older man, Joe, who she falls in love with. So much in love she left her first husband and runs away with Joe to a town that was designed to for a floursihing black community. The town however was not flourishing but Joe was about to change that. He made himself mayor of the town and established himself along with his new beautiful wife Janie. Although her life was full of prestige and material possesions, she still was wanting something more.

The age difference between her and Joe, as well as Joe's jealousy towards Janie started to put a strain on there marriage. Eventually Joe passed away, and Janie was left alone. But not for long, becuase three months after the passing of Joe, she met and fell in love, nothing but love, with a younger man named Teacake. They were soon married and although she left the wealth she had inherrited from Joe, she became totaly satisfied with life because of her new love with Teacake.

The review of this Book prepared by Charlotte




Janie Crawford's life story unfolds from her humble beginnings of being raised by her grandmother to her adulthood with two loveless marriages. Janie's life is full of turmoil because she is not raised by her mother and father which forces her grandmother to raise her and push Janie into a loveless marriage at the age of 17 before Janie has a chance to experience life and love. She runs away with Joe Starks who becomes her second husband and lives with him for 20 years till he passes away.

Her idea of true love in marriage fades away in her marriage to Starks who becomes abusive and completely uninterested in Janie.

Janie reinvents herself into an attractive vibrant woman after Joe's death and finally finds live with a man named Tea Cup. Her journey and struggles are presented with vivid language. Her story is more about a discovery of self then love. An excellent entertaining read.
The review of this Book prepared by Daniela Lo Presti




Janie is a beautiful young black woman who is raised by her
doting grandmother. Her grandmother wants to see her sitting on the porch with nothing to do all day. When Janie loses her 2nd husband, another, younger man comes into her life - Tea Cake. She takes off with him to work side by side, finding out she can tell tall tales, work in the fields and be her own woman.
The review of this Book prepared by Joan Clare




"Their Eyes Were Watching God" is a story of a young woman's quest to find fulfillment and at the same time self-discovery. It is also Zora Neale Hurston's literary masterpiece. Sixteen-year-old Jamie is married to Logan Killick and Jamie is in for a shock, as her expectations of marriage and of what really happens is not the same.

But Joe Sparks comes on the scene, speaking of better things, of greater happiness, of their own personal rainbows of success and true love. This is Jamie's odyssey. A prominent writer of the Harlem Renaissance, Hurston work is one of great beauty, of great sensitivity, of dynamic literary content.


The review of this Book prepared by Bill Hobbs



Chapter Analysis of Their Eyes Were Watching God

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Plot & Themes

Tone of book?    -   thoughtful Time/era of story    -   1930's-1950's Romance/Romance Problems    -   Yes Kind of romance:    -   marriage/relationship going to pieces Is this an adult or child's book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Lover is    -   chased obsessively but totally uninterested

Main Character

Gender    -   Female Profession/status:    -   homemaker Age:    -   40's-50's Ethnicity/Nationality    -   Black (American)

Setting

How much descriptions of surroundings?    -   6 () United States    -   Yes The US:    -   Deep South The Americas (not US):    -   Yes The Americas:    -   South Small town?    -   Yes Small town people:    -   nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee

Writing Style

Sex in book?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   vague references only Amount of dialog    -   roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

Books with storylines, themes & endings like Their Eyes Were Watching God

Zora Neale Hurston Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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