Their Eyes Were Watching God

1. Their Eyes Were Watching God By: Zora Neale Hurston Created by: Chelsea Fender

2. Plot Summary: The novel starts off with Janie Crawford returning to Eatonville, Florida after “burying the dead”. The townspeople all gossip and speculate about what happened to Janie, but her best friend Phoebe stands up for her and goes to meet her in her old home. They begin reminiscing about Janie’s life and what had happened while she had been away. Janie begins her story from when she was a teenager living with her elderly grandmother. She tells how her grandmother was the only one who had ever taken care of her but she slowly starts to feel hatred towards her grandmother due to the fact that she wants to give Janie’s hand to Logan Killicks. Janie did not want to marry him because she wants to find true love but was forced into it anyway. Logan treated Janie terribly and only used her for labor around the house. Her grandmother died later on through their marriage and then Janie eventually decides to leave him for a man she has been secretly flirting with for days, Joe Starks. Joe and Janie get married and decide to move to Eatonville (an all black community) with hopes of Joe making it big. He aspired to change the small town into a growing city that would attract people from all around. Joe (Jody) was nominated Governor and soon became overwhelmed with improving Eatonville that he neglected to give Janie the love she wanted. Janie became dehumanized by the way Jody treated her as royalty and felt trapped in her marriage. Janie eventually cracked in front of all of the townspeople and exploited Jody as the cruel and evil man he had been. In retaliation he beat her and their marriage was shattered. Later, Jody became very ill and died leaving Janie with pure happiness. She felt free and relieved of her duties.

3. Plot Summary Later on she met Tea Cake. He was twelve years younger than she was but for the first time in her life she felt that she had finally met her one, true love. Janie married Tea Cake and decided to leave Eatonville to start a fresh life with the man of her dreams. All of the townspeople warned Janie of what had happened to another lady in the town who had been taken for her money. Janie took $200 dollars with her just in case Tea Cake wasn’t who he said he was. After leaving Eatonville and heading for the EverGlades, Janie and Tea Cake stop to rest in a hotel room. Janie falls asleep and later waked up, alone. She finds that her money was missing along with her new husband, Tea Cake. She waited around the hotel room, not knowing what to do next and was surprised when Tea Cake showed back up with a stab wound to the chest. She found out that he found the money and went to gamble it away for ever more money. He came back injured because the card game was taken way out of control. The eventually made their way to the Everglades where they lived the life of their dreams socializing with loved ones and being free. Around two years later a terrible hurricane passed through, causing everyone to lose their houses and for some, their lives. On their journey escaping from the hurricane Janie was threatened by a wild dog, but Tea Cake rescued her and was bitten by the dog. Three weeks later Tea Cake becomes ill and they found out that the dog had rabies. The doctor ordered medicine but it would not make it in time. One night Tea Cake, influenced through rabies, had thought that Janie was cheating on him and raised a gun to her. Janie had no choice but to protect her self, so she shot a killed him. She was put on trial where she was eventually found innocent and then she returned back to Eatonville to be chastised by her old, gossipy, neighbors.

4. Janie Crawford • Janie’s lifetime journey was not to only find true love, but to find herself. • In the beginning she was unsure of what she wanted but on her trip back to Eatonville (after Tea Cake died) she knew what kind of person she was and had always aspired to be. • She faced many hardships in life but always came out a better person. • At several points in her marriages before Tea Cake, Janie felt inferior to everyone because her husbands had confined her freedom.

5. Nanny Crawford • A former slave who had brought Janie up since her mother wouldn’t be a part of her life. • Wanted the best for Janie and was overprotective. • Forced her into marriage because she knew she was dying and didn’t want Janie to be alone.

6. Logan Killicks • Never loved Janie • Only married her so he could have more help on his farm • Used her for cooking, plowing, feeding his mules, etc. • Emotionally abused Janie when they were married through constant yelling and arguing.

7. Joe (Jody) Starks • Janie’s first love. • Helped her on her journey for freedom. • Provided for her and treated her as royalty (at first). • He became too involved with the town and began to control Janie. • Beat Janie in front of the town when she embarrassed him. • He became ill and died, leaving Janie the town of Eatonville, Florida.

8. Tea Cake • Janie’s true love. • Worked hard for what he wanted. • Treated Janie as an independent woman. • Saved Janie from a dog during the storm and ended up getting rabies. • Died three weeks later because of his delusional mind. (Janie killed him) • Showed Janie that there was hope in love and ended her quest for love and freedom.

9. Phoebe • Janie’s best friend. • Protected her reputation/name while she was away. • Listened to her story and gave her advice.

10. Themes • Love vs. Independence • Rich vs. Poor • Labor vs. Royalty • Gender: Men vs. Women • Race: White vs. Black • Fate vs. Free Will • Jealousy • Pride