Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston: The Imagery Hidden in the Title - Essay Example

Their eyes were watching God: The imagery hidden in the The context in which a book was written, the sentiments which led the author on the journey to pen down the imaginative narratives in her mind, the conditions and life which forced the author to speak out in some way- these give us a glimpse into the original intention with which a story is told. Even more interesting is to analyze the title that the author chose to give that piece of writing. After all, the title, more than any other thing, is our first introduction to the story. It creates that first impression of familiarity; creates the spark of interest; sets then mind thinking and once we dip ourselves into the world as created by the author the title gives us a chance to think back and reflect on whether we understood the author correctly or is there more than the imagery that passes the mind? “Their eyes were watching God” is a book which was written during a time of upheaval, uncertainty, racial tensions and a nation’s attempt to gain its own identity. Originally condemned by notable authors of the time as slanderous and damaging for the African-American community; it was simultaneously recognized as a master piece of metaphorical linguistics and ‘word imagery’. The author, Zora Neale Hurston, wrote the book in an era where the Racial Uplift Program was in direct resistance from the Harlem Rennaisance. The former attempted to portray African-Americans at their best, with upstanding and morally strong representatives, the latter had the intention of exposing the racial tensions and celebrating the ‘Negro’ community in all its colorful and complex aspects. ‘Their eyes’ was the story of Janie, an African American woman, raised by a slave grandmother and married thrice. Her life was one of hardship, adventure, love and striving for independence-it was a life influenced by Hurston’s personal experiences. More than just a stepping stone for the Harlem Rennaisance it was the story of a girl as she grew into womanhood. With such complexities surrounding the original book and the eventual recognition of Hurston’s genius in portraying African American life and female sexuality in such a delicate and poetic prose, a lot of thought has gone into interpreting the layers of meaning hidden in the book’s title. At first glance it is just one part of a phrase from the novel, "They sat in company with the others in other shanties, their eyes straining against crude walls and their souls asking if He meant to measure their puny might against His. They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God" (Hurston, ch18). This phrase occurs near the end of the plot line, when a hurricane is about to hit the town where the main events take place and the residents sit, terrified and awestruck waiting for the disaster which is about to disrupt their lives. Taken in this context the title would refer to the fact in one way or the other, humans are utterly dependant on that power which religion describes as God and which is represented in that limitless strength and control of nature. These people cannot do anything to protect their homes and livelihood; their lives are in jeopardy and at this seamless moment of time all they can do is wait and watch for what God do would. Their eyes are strained to see the future but all they can really sense is God. But the author’s intention is not to have the title represent just one event in her master piece. It is supposed to embody the spirit of the whole narrative and in this case a literal interpretation would suffice too. Janie has dreams and hope and the courage to try and achieve those, however, the decision of her life is not entirely in her own hand. Life takes her on unchartered routes, through despair and challenges and opportunities she had never thought of. She is as much an instrument of fate as any other human being and she too would look towards God – that all powerful entity that could on his whimsy make her fall in love with a wayward traveler. Her eyes are also watching, maybe, with a prayer of their own (Curren, 17). However, there have been some critics who not only disagree with this analysis but present a completely opposing alternative. The people did not heed the prior warning the Indians had given them, they were short sighted and many believed that the storm would simply pass over and they would be spared. Their hopes were on the wild forces of nature and the grace of God whom they looked towards- to be spared for their ordeals. There was an inherent belief that even if they did nothing but kept their prayers alive they would survive. In that sense the title actually serves as a warning for those who do nothing but watch out for God, without endeavoring to progress and to help themselves. In the end such people are left doing what they started with: looking for a sign from the heavens. And perhaps, worse off than before. In order to make our understanding of the title stronger, the various theological meanings would have to be co related with the themes of feminism and the end of white supremacy that form the backbone of the story. After all “ Hurstons book is so full of metaphor and imagery … this crafting adds layers and depth to a novel and raises it above a run-of-the-mill trade book… Hurstons art as a writer steps across the horizon of the role of woman as storykeeper and into the realm of woman as a highly professional crafter of words of vibrancy, imagery, and myth” (Berridge, 2) it is improbable to think that the title of the book would and the events which constitute the storyline would also not be wrapped in many different sentiments and significance. One thing to note is that the hurricane which prompts the original line where the title is taken from could also be symbol for a greater and deeper cause. In a book about how an African-American woman overcomes the obstacles of a society dictated by the white society, the hurricane could serve as signal for the end of an era. It was to symbolize the breakdown of a racially injustice system and in a metaphorical way was a cause of celebration for the people. It would be dark times, as chaos was sure to rear its head but within the darkness there would also be a sense of triumph, not just for the protagonist but a whole nation. And in that moment of change their eyes would search for God; with gratitude or with cautious hope. Or conversely, with a reckless challenge. God or the powers that be might have given the control of a whole nation in the hands of those privileged with a lighter skin but times were going to change. Finally, they were rising to accept their new identity and freedom. The last thing to consider is the female perspective of the book. According to Berridge in Tracking character development “Hurston embodies in Janie the same kind of metamorphosis women as a segment of society have undergone in order to emerge strong and self-sustaining” (2). African-American women did not have any status in the society at the time, it was a men’s world where the power was still perceived to be in the white man’s hand. They had no say in the working of the society, no chance of fair treatment and very low opportunity to improve their lifestyle. And it is the nature of the human being that when confronted by a situation which seems to crush their souls and which they don’t deserve to have been placed in, they turn to the wide unknown looking for a sign of help or retribution. As they struggle and fight against the injustice, their eyes watch God, questioning the reason for their sufferings and. Hurston deliberately chose a title for her book which would convey the doubts and trepidation of her protagonist; and through her those of a whole nation that was born under the shadow was slavery and racial discrimination And perhaps after looking at all the different facets of the book’s title one can come to the conclusion that like the book the title was designed to generate a plethora of responses from the different people who would become her readers. Depending on the personal beliefs and experiences of the person, the title would either be a reminder in the power of God or a reminder of the inner strength that humans possess and our ability to question even the most supreme power. For others it is instead a commentary on the civil rights and feminist movements of the early 90s. The meanings are layered and multi varied and with a classic like “Their eyes were watching God” the title deserves to be studied in-depth and fully understood, to get the full scope of the beauty of the story. Works Cited Berridge, Judi. In Search of Janie: Tracking Character Development and Literary Elements in “Their Eyes Were Watching God”. The Women in Literature and Life Assembly of The National Council of Teachers of English, Vol 8. Fall 1999. Web. 19 April 2012. Curren D, Erik. Should Their Eyes Have Been Watching God? Hurston’s Use Of Religious Experience and Gothic Horror. African American Review, Vol.29, pp 17-25. Spring 1995. Web. 19 April 2012. Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes were watching God. University of Illinois Press, 1978. Print. Read More