DQ #1- TEWWG

From the initial view of the title, Their Eyes Were Watching God, the novel by Zora Neal Hurston, the reader may have expected a spiritually based novel and felt that they received the opposite of their expectations. While on the same token, many have suggested that the text does have a spiritual connection at it's core.

As you consider this thought, express whether you believe this to be true, from your interpretation of the novel. Consider the intellectual and conceptual understanding of God and religion in our society; in other words do not base your answer solely on your own spiritual understanding (be open minded).

As you compose this answer and respond to the answers provided by your classmates, discuss the following questions within your answer:

1. What kind of God are the eyes of Hurston’s characters, especially Janie Crawford (Starks), watching?

2. What crucial moments of the plot does the title allude to?

3. Does this God ever answer Janie’s questioning?

* REMEMBER: All responses should be written in complete sentences. Initial responses are expected to be well thought out and well written (considering minimal spelling errors and diction or syntactical errors. As you respond to your classmates, please write in complete sentences and be clear in your explanation.

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Permalink Reply by jesus garcia on September 12, 2012 at 5:19pm

I believe that the title, "Their Eyes Were Watching God" does relate to the novel because while Jaine was on her Journey in life she encountered many problems and asked god for help. Including the storm part of the book where it says "all though their eyes saw darkness their eyes were wathing god". Throughout the story god would allways answer Janie's questions even if they were small signs those signs would keep her going.

Permalink Reply by Anthony Martinez on September 12, 2012 at 5:21pm

I agree with Ana Diaz , God is described as powerful... The tragic things that happened in her relationship was to find true love and god was guiding her the right way... Janie still kept her head up no matter what, she still was able to smile at the end..

Permalink Reply by Adrian Santillano on September 12, 2012 at 6:37pm

The characters in "Their Eyes Were Watching God" are watching a god that is very similar to our modern day beliefs.This is evident throughout the story especially when the hurricane arrives and Janie begins to worry about what may happen to her and looks up to God to save her or help her. He is a god who watches over us & in the end works in mysterious ways to make sure we end up reaching our true happiness. An example is Janie's relationships, although she had two awful marriages, In the end she received a marriage she truly loved and enjoyed. God was also evident throughout the text in various elements, One of them being the force of mother nature. The story shows mother natures wrath while simultaneously showing its beauty.

Permalink Reply by Braelin Evans on September 12, 2012 at 11:29pm

At the beginning of the novel Janie's grandmother made a speech about being a strong/women " to not let people run right over her ( men). During the novel Janie was stuck in that mind frame acouple of times and to get herself out she turned to god. Though out the novel Janie learned from her mistakes about men, but she never took her eyes off god. (Their eyes were watching god.)

Permalink Reply by Shelby Hardy on September 13, 2012 at 9:14am

I believe that God played a huge role in Janies's life.Through the story she went through struggles and depended on God to be there for her. Like for example, when the hurricane came they suffered through the storm and she begged for God's protection by quoting,"There eyes were watching God".This quote made the book.