Zora Neale Hurston’s novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God” tells the story of Janie Crawford and her search for love and independence. The novel has been praised for its use of African-American dialect and its depiction of black life in the early twentieth century. The following quotes from the novel provide a glimpse into Janie’s story and the themes of love, race, and identity that are explored in the book.
1. “Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board.” – Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
2. “The hogs gruntin’ in a wallerin’ sound, /The grindin’ an’ the groanin’ of de hogs.” – Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
3. “Love is heady stuff.” – Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
4. “There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” – Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
5. “All my life Ah been with you, done what you tole me to do. But the first time Ah done what Ah wanted to do, you hounded me out.” – Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
6. “W’en you feels yo’self dyin’ an’ dyin’, jus’ keep on a-tryin’; den you is gwine to live fuh true.” – Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
7. “Either you travel the way of Nature, or you
What is the message of Their Eyes Were Watching God?
One of the most prevalent themes in Their Eyes Were Watching God is Janie’s search for unconditional, true, and fulfilling love. She goes through several relationships throughout her life, each one teaching her more about what she wants and needs in a partner. In the end, she finally finds the man who truly loves her for who she is, and they have a beautiful life together.
The ending of Their Eyes Were Watching God is hopeful, with Janie reflecting on her life and her future. She has come to a place of self-actualization and is ready to move forward. The death of Tea Cake is bittersweet, but it has given Janie a new lease on life. She is ready to start anew and create her own destiny.
What do the first two paragraphs of Their Eyes Were Watching God mean
In these opening lines, Hurston introduces a crucial idea that is carried throughout the novel: the metaphor of “ships at a distance” describes how reality is shaped differently for men and women. For men, reality is like a ship on the horizon, always out of reach and unattainable. For women, reality is like a ship at anchor, always within reach but never fully realized. This metaphor is significant because it highlights the different ways that men and women see the world and the different ways that they are able to interact with it.
In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston offers a moving call for black people to embrace a new kind of love, one based upon partnership and not ownership. This novel has long been celebrated for its vivid portrayal of African American culture in the early twentieth century. However, its message is just as relevant today. In a time when division and hatred seem to be the norm, Their Eyes Were Watching God reminds us of the importance of love and understanding.
What is the most important symbol in Their Eyes Were Watching God?
Janie’s hair is a symbol of her power and unconventional identity; it represents her strength and individuality in three ways. First, it represents her independence and defiance of petty community standards. Second, it represents her physical strength and beauty. Third, it represents her spiritual strength and power.
Desire, love, and independence are all important themes in Zora Neale Hurston’s novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. The novel follows the story of Janie Crawford, a woman who goes through three marriages, each of which brings her closer to her goal of finding true love and self-fulfillment. Throughout her journey, Janie learns that desire and love are not always the same thing, and that true love requires both independence and a deep connection.
What does Mrs Turner symbolize?
Mrs Turner represents the cruelty and delusion that comes from idolizing physical characteristics, and how this devotion turns ordinary people into either gods to worship or fiends to demonize. Beyond that, Mrs Turner also serves as a reminder that prejudice exists within the Black community, not just outside of it.
Janie’s long and flowing hair is a symbol of power and defiance. In the novel, women of Janie’s age were not supposed to wear their hair down, since it was considered improper. However, Janie defied the norm and let her beautiful hair flow. This represented her defiance against the expectations placed on her by society. Additionally, her hair was also a symbol of her power. Janie was able to feel like a girl again when she was married to Tea Cake. This was because she was able to let her hair down and live freely.
What does the pear tree symbolize
The Druids considered the Pear Tree sacred because of its ability to prosper in cold climates. They believed that the tree’s wood had magical properties and could be used to make wands that would bring good luck. The tree was also associated with the goddesses Diana and Aphrodite.
Today, the Pear Tree is still considered a symbol of good luck and fortune. It is also a popular choice for weddings and other special occasions.
The author uses the metaphor of a rabid dog to describe the dangers of hate. Arabid dog is a symbol of hate that is so vicious it will attack anyone. This is a scary idea, and it is made even more frightening by the fact that the dog is blind to whom it hurts.
What is Tea Cake’s real name?
Woods is much younger than Janie and, unlike her previous husbands, is attentive and loving towards her. He encourages her to pursue her dreams, and although their relationship is not without problems, they are largely happy together.
Eventually, Woods contracts rabies and, in a delirious state, attacks Janie. She is forced to shoot and kill him in self-defense. His death is a devastating blow to Janie, but it also allows her to finally find true independence.
The horizon is a symbol of Janie’s lifelong search for happiness. At the end of the story, Pheoby is anxious to seek her own horizon with her husband, as a result of hearing Janie’s story. Another metaphor in the novel can be found in the working men and women and the comparison to the mule.
What does Janie sacrifice
Janie’s need for self-actualization is fulfilled through her relationship with Tea Cake. Janie’s values concerning her life and of Tea Cake are also illuminated in her conversation with Phoeby before she leaves Eatonville. Janie’s love for Tea Cake is true and selfless, and she is willing to sacrifice her own comfort and safety for him. This is a clear example of Janie’s commitment to Tea Cake and her desire to see him happy and fulfilled.
Janie’s repeated failures in marriage led her to a greater awareness of herself as a woman and an independent individual. Moreover, Hurston’s examination of racism is not limited to the black-white perspective, but instead encompasses a broader view of racism.
What do eyes symbolize in the Bible?
Kotze’s perspective on the correlation between one’s innermost feelings and desires and what is revealed through their eyes is an interesting one. It certainly seems plausible that one’s eyes could betray their innermost thoughts and feelings, especially if those thoughts and feelings are negative. However, it is also possible that someone could conceal their inner thoughts and feelings through their eyes, making it difficult to discern what their true intentions may be. In any case, it is definitely worth considering Kotze’s idea that our eyes may be a window into our innermost selves.
Tea Cake and Janie’s marriage is marked by tragedy when Tea Cake is grievously wounded in a fight. This beating foreshadows Tea Cake’s eventual demise from rabies after rescuing Janie during the hurricane. Although their time together was short, Tea Cake and Janie’s love for each other was strong and true. Janie will always remember Tea Cake fondly and cherish the memories they made together.
Conclusion
1. “All eyes were on her. It was the way she wanted it.”
2. “There is a lot of good in the worst of us and a lot of bad in the best of us. That’s why it’s important to judge a person by their actions, not their words.”
3. “There are no perfect people in this world. We all have our own flaws and imperfections. What makes us unique is how we deal with them.”
4. “Nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes. The key is to learn from them and move on.”
5. “We all have our own story to tell. And each story is special and worth sharing.”
Although there are numerous quotes from “Their Eyes Were Watching God” that are memorable, one that stands out is when Janie says “She looked back at her life and saw that it was good…not perfect, but good.” This quote is significant because it shows that Janie was content with her life, even though it wasn’t perfect. It’s a reminder to appreciate the good moments in life, even if there are also some bad moments.