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 Shelby Morris on September 12, 2012 at 6:53am

I agree with Alysa. I do also believe that the "God" mentioned, is a powerful force, and that although does not always seem present is still there helping guide Jainie through her life.

Permalink Reply by Ny'la U. Jones on September 10, 2012 at 5:01pm

1.) I beileve God was watching her all through the novel, because she always come out in good health in the end. for example when she was getting attacked by the dog .. God brought her out , he used Teacake as a filler to work threw him to bring her through .

2.) A crucial moment that happenend in the story was when Janie was being forced to live her life how Joe wanted her to. She finaly got tired of it and married her true love Teacake ... once Joe died.

3.)She is, when she is questioning her love for all "Logan Killicks" . She didnt love him she really married him to please her grandmother .When she died she started to really live her life for herself. God made it clear to her when she saw how the man she left Logan for .. didnt work =D

Permalink Reply by Michael M Becton on September 12, 2012 at 3:57pm

I agree with Ny'la God did play a big role he helped her with alot even if it wasent at that minute he did.

Ny'la also said Janie didnt want to marry "Logan Killicks" her grand mother made her. I AGREE

Permalink Reply by Adrian Santillano on September 12, 2012 at 6:42pm

I agree with Ny'la and Michael. Through out the story it does seem and appears as if god is constantly watching out for Janie. It seemed as if god was paving a path for her which she ended up following to the end. Which led to her finding her true happiness.

Permalink Reply by Caila Davis on September 10, 2012 at 8:01pm

in the novel their eyes were eyes watching god, they could have been watching any god but what ever god it was he was a strong powerful god for all the things he brought janie through in her life. she was able to push on and continue with her life.

the hurricane experience they had exposes the meaning of the title. their prayers were in full affect in the hurricane and they had complete faith in god to pull them through the dangers of that situation.

Permalink Reply by Natalie Paniagua on September 10, 2012 at 9:19pm

I think that God plays a big role in the novel because Janie went through lots of obstacles and still overcame them with the help of God. God was there in all the tough and happy times in Janie's life. God was the one that helped her defeat the big challenges in her life. In my opinion, God gave Janie lots of motivation, which made Janie stay strong with all the difficulties that she was going through. Janie was in many unpleasant situations, where you would want to quit, but Janie didn't do that, she continued. Janie didn't give up so easily and that was because God was in her life. One thing that Janie never stopped seeking for was happiness. For me, the most cruicial moment of the novel was when Tea Cake got bit by a dog that had rabies because in a way that lead to his death. God answered all of Janie's questionings because Janie always seemed happy eventhough she was living a harsh life.

Permalink Reply by Eva Mondragon on September 11, 2012 at 6:29pm

I agree with Natalie, i also believe that God always answered Janie's questionings. I also think this because Janie was always happy after the worst moments. An example would be Teacake's death, even though she had just killed her husband she didn't feel so guilty because she knew she did the right thing. I can tell that Janie must of asked God for advice and that was what helped her overcome Teacake's death.

Permalink Reply by Ana Diaz on September 11, 2012 at 7:41pm

I agree with natalie because God gave Janie motivation after she killed Tea Cake. Tea Cake was the most important thing to Janie but she knew she did the right thing by killing him. I also agree that God helped her overcome her obsticles.

Permalink Reply by Natalie Paniagua on September 11, 2012 at 7:22pm

I agree with Ana, when she states that God was Janie's guidiance throughout her journey in search of happiness. Janie found happiness when she met Tea Cake and that was because God put him in her life. But I also disagree when Ana says that the most crucial moment was when she met Tea Cake. Tea Cake brought happiness and joy in Janie's life. He awoke many things that other men didn't. In my opinion, that would be more of a joyful moment rather than a crucial moment.

Permalink Reply by Katheryn Vanderstaay on September 10, 2012 at 10:20pm

I think that in someway this story is tied to a spiritual meaning. Throughout her journey Janie faces many complications and encounters unpleasant situation, which leaves her to only be able to depend on God. When forced to marry Logan she depends on God to help her be summisive to him, then when she leaves with Joe she depends on a higher power to help her endure that marraige for so long, and finally for the rest of her life she needs God because she goes through so much pain having to lose her true love,Tea Cake. In another way I also see this title not to be literal. I think that since Janie isnt the ordinary woman and has pride the townspeople are always watching her because they see her as a God. she is not the average woman to them and thats why they are always trying to find something to say about her.

Permalink Reply by Tony boyd jr on September 11, 2012 at 7:20am

1)their watching the eyes of a understandable god, why? cause out of her 2 failed relationships with two men, the last one she went with showed her true love, and that the god she watches gave her that.

2)their was a crucial moment when Joe tried to take control of Janie's life, her talking, her doing things, basically Joe treated her like a slave.

3)yes cause even do Janie didn't find true love with her two last husbands, she founded meaningful with tea cake, and that showed that god answered her prayers.

Permalink Reply by Emily Kyle Graham on September 11, 2012 at 3:40pm

In my opinion, Janie is referring to God Almighty when she states she is "watching" God. She looks to God for security and peace at mind knowing something more powerful than what is on this earth is looking after her. I believe that Janie knows God will keep her safe and bring her through any situation life throws at her. In chapter 18 the book states "They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God." I think this is were the author gets her title. In this part of the book, Janie and Tea Cake were in a hurricane and they could have not survived it. Nothing was there to save them and all they had was hope in God. God answers Janie's questioning in him by allowing her to learn from her life experiences and end her story continent and happy with her life. God shows her she can overcome hard times and he will always be there in the end. He shows her she can trust in him and have faith in him and he will always come through to her.