Novel synopsis
by kayla groeneveld
Their Eyes Were Watching God is a story of Janie Crawford’s life. This novel was written by Zora Neale Hurston, but Janie narrates her story when talking to her friend Phoeby Watson. Janie is of mulatto heritage during the early 20th century, and tells a story of her search for true love throughout the years with her three marriages.
Janie starts out by growing up with her grandmother, Nanny, after her parents split. One day, Janie wandering outside her house and witnessed a bee pollinating a flower; watching this action made her obsessed with finding true love. Nanny was eager to set up Janie with a farmer named Logan Killicks. Janie obeys her grandmother and agrees to marry Logan, but it doesn’t turn out well. During their marriage, Logan becomes very abusive and looks to Janie as being inferior to him. He threatens to kill her one day after she did not obey him and that is when she decides to run away with Joe Starks.
Joe Starks catches Janie’s eye with his handsome looks and appealing personality. They settle down in Eatonville together while living a lavish lifestyle. Janie begins to feel comfortable but soon realizes that Joe is not the guy she thought he was. Joe has the same mindset of gender roles as Logan did; women are inferior to men and should obey them as they please. He believes that Janie should be put on a pedestal for his eyes only. This does not sit well with Janie however; she learns to look the other way until he passes away. After Joe’s passing, Janie becomes a wealthy and independent widow which is on the radar for many young and poor men.
Independent Janie does not last long, as she comes across a man named Tea Cake. They eventually fall in love and move away from Eatonville to the Everglades in Florida. They begin to live a healthy and happy life with minor issues along the way. One day, a massive hurricane hit the area and left the town running for their lives. Janie and Tea Cake get caught up in the storm and a rabid dog with rabies bites Tea Cake while he was trying to save Janie. Tea Cake ends up not seeking treatment for rabies and it mentally changes him in to a selfish and crazy man. He eventually tries to shoot Janie, but Janie defends herself by shooting and killing him. After the town hears about his death, Janie is put on trial for murder because the town believed that Tea Cake would never threaten her. Janie is found not guilty; thanks to the women that showed up defending her.
Janie then moves back to Eatonville, after Tea Cakes funeral, and there is a lot of talk throughout the town. She soon meets up with her long-time friend Phoeby and begins to tell her story.
Janie starts out by growing up with her grandmother, Nanny, after her parents split. One day, Janie wandering outside her house and witnessed a bee pollinating a flower; watching this action made her obsessed with finding true love. Nanny was eager to set up Janie with a farmer named Logan Killicks. Janie obeys her grandmother and agrees to marry Logan, but it doesn’t turn out well. During their marriage, Logan becomes very abusive and looks to Janie as being inferior to him. He threatens to kill her one day after she did not obey him and that is when she decides to run away with Joe Starks.
Joe Starks catches Janie’s eye with his handsome looks and appealing personality. They settle down in Eatonville together while living a lavish lifestyle. Janie begins to feel comfortable but soon realizes that Joe is not the guy she thought he was. Joe has the same mindset of gender roles as Logan did; women are inferior to men and should obey them as they please. He believes that Janie should be put on a pedestal for his eyes only. This does not sit well with Janie however; she learns to look the other way until he passes away. After Joe’s passing, Janie becomes a wealthy and independent widow which is on the radar for many young and poor men.
Independent Janie does not last long, as she comes across a man named Tea Cake. They eventually fall in love and move away from Eatonville to the Everglades in Florida. They begin to live a healthy and happy life with minor issues along the way. One day, a massive hurricane hit the area and left the town running for their lives. Janie and Tea Cake get caught up in the storm and a rabid dog with rabies bites Tea Cake while he was trying to save Janie. Tea Cake ends up not seeking treatment for rabies and it mentally changes him in to a selfish and crazy man. He eventually tries to shoot Janie, but Janie defends herself by shooting and killing him. After the town hears about his death, Janie is put on trial for murder because the town believed that Tea Cake would never threaten her. Janie is found not guilty; thanks to the women that showed up defending her.
Janie then moves back to Eatonville, after Tea Cakes funeral, and there is a lot of talk throughout the town. She soon meets up with her long-time friend Phoeby and begins to tell her story.