Lecture Notes: "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston

Introduction

• Zora Neale Hurston claimed to have been born in Eatonville, Florida, in 1901 but was actually born in Notasulga, Alabama, on January 7, 1891.
• Known for her works as a novelist, anthropologist, essayist, lecturer, and theatrical producer.
• Notable works include "Their Eyes Were Watching God," "Jonah's Gourd Vine," "Mules and Men," and "Moses, Man of the Mountain."
• Her work went out of print for nearly 30 years after initial publication.
• Revival of interest in Hurston's works in the 1970s, led by Alice Walker and others.

Key Themes and Discussions:

Questions for Discussion

1. Nature of God: Explore what kind of God the characters are watching, and their questioning of God.
2. Concept of Horizon: Analyze how Janie and her relationships expand her horizons.
3. Journey and Cultural Immersion: Janie's journey reflects immersion in black culture and traditions.
4. Voice and Autonomy: Examine how Janie acquires her voice and shapes her life.
5. Language Differences: Contrast between the language of men and women in the novel.
6. Gender Roles: Janie's conformity and divergence from men's assumptions about women.
7. Vernacular and Traditions: Importance of dialect in understanding characters and their lives.

Acknowledgments

• Thanks to those who worked to reintroduce Hurston's work, including Alice Walker.

Forewords

Edwidge Danticat

• Highlights the novel's exploration of self-discovery and love.
• Janie Crawford's journey of remembrance and defiance.

Mary Helen Washington

• Discusses the novel's initial rejection by critics and later revival.
• Emphasizes the novel's affirmation of black cultural traditions and female heroism.

Book Overview

• Plot Summary: Janie's journey from West Florida to Eatonville to the Everglades.
• Character Development: Janie's relationships with Logan Killicks, Joe Starks, and Tea Cake.
• Themes: Love, independence, gender roles, and the search for identity.

Critical Analysis

• Impact of Publication: Initially criticized for not conforming to protest tradition.
• Literary Significance: Rediscovered by black women writers finding a maternal literary ancestry.
• Cultural Context: Hurston's work viewed as a celebration of black life and culture.

Conclusion

• Hurston's legacy as a pioneering African American woman writer.
• "Their Eyes Were Watching God" as a central work in American literature, exploring themes of love, independence, and cultural identity.