Welcome to "Their Eyes Were Watching God"

With this blog, you will be following me into the adventure of Janie Crawford during the 1900s. The novel is "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston. This book is about a young African American woman who wishes for a complete life without sorrow, fear, and foolish romantic dreams.




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25 Random Facts about Me

1. I love visiting foreign countries.
2. I like to bake cookies and cakes.
3. I love to play Paintball.
4. I don't like school at all.
5. I like to make new friends.
6. My favorite sport is lacrosse.
7. My favorite animal is the Bald Eagle.
8. I like to shoot weapons.
9. My favorite lacrosse player is Grant Catalino.
10. I have a twin and I am two minutes older than her.
11. I like Chinese food.
12. My favorite color is Orange.
13. I don't like wearing uniforms.
14. I love to go jetskiing.
15. I love to read.
16. I have five pets.
17. I love having buzz cuts.
18. I wear contacts.
19. I had braces.
20. My favorite car is a mustang.
21. I love the smell of axe.
22. I like it when its raining, thundering, and lightning.
23. My favorite ice cream is cookie dough.
24. I like the dark.
25. I don't have a cell phone yet. :(

Imagery in Their Eyes Were Watching God

1.Pear Tree p11

She describes the tree as loves embrace and how it is full of life. It is also her realization of a calm and peaceful life that she is happily in union with someone else. “the thousand sister-calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree from root to tiniest branch creaming in every blossom and frothing with delight.”

2. Janie’s body by townsfolk p2

They describe her body and physical features. “The men noticed her firm buttocks like she had grape fruits in her hip pockets; the great rope of black hair swinging to her waist and unraveling in the wind like a plume; then her pugnacious breasts trying to bore holes in her shirt.”

3. Nanny’s face after she saw Janie kiss Johnny Taylor p12

Her facial features are hurt and dejected. She feels unimportant in Janie’s life even though she is full of knowledge and wisdom. “Nanny’s head and face looked like the standing roots of some old tree that had been torn away by storm. Foundation of ancient power that no longer mattered.”

4. The revelation that marriage doesn’t mean love p25

She knew that the world was created each day and that nothing stays constant. She realizes that marriage doesn’t mean that she will love someone. “She knew the world was a stallion rolling I nthe blue pasture of ether. She knew that God tore down the old world every evening and built a new one by sun up.”

5. Mule talk p53 “There would be more stories about how poor the brute was; his age; his evil disposition and his latest caper. Everyone indulged in mule talk.”

This describes how people get laughs out of their everyday life. Its not just one person being mean, but everyone having a good time. It also says why the people make fun of the mule.

6. Teasing the Mule p56 “The brute jerked up his head, laid back his ears and rushed to attack.”… “But he had more spirit left than body. He was soon panting and heaving from the effort of spinning his old carcass about. Everybody was having fun at the mule-baiting.”

The mule was trying its best to fend for himself and hurt his attackers. However, since he’s so old, he couldn’t do much except tire himself out. Everyone in the town loves to bait the mule except for Janie.

7. Dead Mule p59 “But way after a while he died. Lum found him under the big tree on his rawbony back with all four feet up in the air. That wasn’t natural and it didn’t look right, but Sam said it would have been more unnatural for him to have laid down on his side and died like any other beast. He had seen Death coming and had stood his ground and fought it like a natural man. Naturally he didn’t have time to straighten himself out.”

The Mule lived a hard life. It was always working hard and angry at its owner. But like all other animals it died in an unnatural way with its feet in the air. It is compared to a natural man because he had fought death but eventually died.

8. The description of when Janie first sets her eyes on Joe Starks. (27)
“It was a cityfied, stylish dressed man with his hat set at an angle that didn’t belong in these parts. His coat was over his arm, but he didn’t need it to represent his clothes. The shirt with the slick sleeveholfers was dazzling enough for the world.
This description allows the reader to realize the professional and sleek look of Joe Starks. He is a gentlemen with a dream and has a purpose. His clothes signify that he has money and will work to get more.

9. This description is of Joe Stark’s house. (47)
“It had two stories with porches, with banisters and such things. The rest of the town looked like servants’ quarters surrounding the ‘big house.’ ”
This description represents the difference between Joe Starks and the rest of the town. It shows how much inferior he believes they are to him, with their houses be much less lavish and smaller. He seems to make the statement that he is grander and more “white” than he is black.

10. The party for the streetlamp (45)
“They cut all sorts of capers and whiffed as it slowly came to perfection with the seasoning penetrating to the bone.”
This is describing the aroma that is surrounding the cooking of the hogs for the occasion. They are in a festive mood that continues to grow because they are becoming more and more a well established town.

Symbolism in Their Eyes Were Watching God

1. Janies hair- It symbolizes her freedom. Her hair is beautiful flows without constraint which is like her spirit so she can do whatever she wants
2. Overalls- It shymbolizes that she is working and a poor women. All the townsfolk look at her and wonder why she works when she has a wealthy husband.
3. Pear tree- It symbolizes her blooming into womanhood. As she grows older, its like the tree blooming and thriving during spring.
4. Gate – The gate symbolizes her restrictions. When she was with Logan she wanted to get away from him because she wasn’t happy. When she finally leaves, it is like her leaving that life behind and having many new opportunities.
5. Mule- The mule symbolizes Joe Starks trying to win back Janie and thinking he can save his relationship with Janie.
6. Head rag- This symbolizes Joe Starks control over Janie. He can tell her what to do and she will do it. He takes away one of her key features to show how much he “owns” her.
7. Joe stark's house – This symbolizes his wealth and how he views himself to be higher than everyone else in the town. He is like a white man with a huge house while everyone else is living in slave houses.
8. Spittoons- This symbolizes how he thinks he is better than everyone else because he can spit in a gold vase instead of on the floor or getting up to spit outside.
9. Put her on a "high chair"- Joe Stark wanted everything for his wife. The “high chair” symbolizes his devotion to her to be as high and mighty as he is. Even though Janie is a woman, Joe wants her to be more important than a man.
10. Lamp lighting – This symbolizes the movement of the small town of Eatonville from a few shacks in the woods to a real town. It is a huge improvement from the time that Joe and Janie first laid eyes on it.

The Meaning of Jay

Some people have interesting names. They have cool meanings or sound cool. Not me. The meaning of Jay is defined as a crow in the bird family. Not very interesting is it? Well that’s just one website. Urban dictionary says “Jay” is “usually a big strong man most likely an MMA fighter or football player. He is that friend that would stand up and fight for his best friends or girlfriends. Most likely your favorite friend to hang out with. Your favorite friend to party with.” In Sanskrit the name Jay means victorious; German, swift; and English to rejoice. Jay is not a very common name. It is only the 152 most popular name which means that there are only 144,550 males with my name as well.
My parents chose Jay because my mother met someone with the same name and loved it. It “stuck with her”. My name isn’t named after anyone in particular, but my middle name is after my Dad. My parents were not looking at any other names for me. It seems they were pretty decisive on what my name would be when I was born. I guess I like my name. Not many people have it so when people say my name they always know who is being talked about. When I tell people my name they usually can’t believe that it’s just Jay. They always think that it’s short for something or a nick name. I hate hearing that.