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 Michael M Becton on September 12, 2012 at 3:58pm

I agree with Dalia Janie didnt always pray to God but he was always by her side even whens he didnt

Permalink Reply by Jzisnsu dndowmb on September 11, 2012 at 10:56pm

I think that God did have a part of Janie's journey. God helped her through the times when she needed help. He was there when Jody was controlling Janie, when she lost her grandmother, when the hurricane hit, etc.

Permalink Reply by Hayden Burkham on September 12, 2012 at 3:21pm

the title has a connection with the text's presented in the novel, there are many texts that explain how God played a big role in Janies life. janie faced troubles throughout this novel and often wanted gods help. "their eyes were watching god" showed how janie turned to him for protection while the storm was abreuing and it exposed the title and what it meant in the story.

Permalink Reply by Jr on September 12, 2012 at 3:38pm

I agree with how you told that God played a big role in Janies life. Janie did always turn for God in the novel and used him for protection during the storm. Your reason helps understand the title under the role of God and Janie.

Permalink Reply by Jr on September 12, 2012 at 3:34pm

I think that the title has a strong connection with God and Janie throughout. But, God was just not a powerful being in the book, but more of a guide to help her through the story of her life in the book. Especially during the storm part in the book, she was always asking for God and showed it. It helped her get through all of the rough situations she had in her life. Janie always asked and recieved. This is how the title to me mostly reflects on Janies life in the book.

Permalink Reply by Michael M Becton on September 12, 2012 at 3:54pm

Janie believe that praying to god would help you on what you need not what you want. I believe that "Their Eyes Were Watching God" meant that Janie not necessarily depended on God but she hoped he would bring her to the light and put her where she needed to be in the world. Janie didn't want to be in the world alone as we can see she didn't look for a mate but when one came knocking she would go for it.Throughout the whole book Janie had been going through problems with the men she was dating she could never pick a perfect one. Janie's life after she left her hometown was very crucial she ran into men who thought good but didn't do as they said.Janie got beat and smacked by men who said they would never lay a finger on her and she still stayed with them instead she would just pray and hope for better days.I believe that when Tea Cake died it was a sign that she needed to be by herself for awhile and that she didn't need a man she was good by herself. God was definitely had a big role in this book because she would always pray to him when things went wrong and sure enough he would answer one way or another.

Permalink Reply by Emma soto on September 12, 2012 at 4:04pm

I think that the book "Their eyes were watching God", had God all in it. When Janie was struggling with something she would always turn to God to ask for help. Like after she found out that Tea Cake was very sick she looked up at the sky and she was watching God wondering why that was all happening and if it was meant to be that way. Also when the hurricane was coming the people were looking up at the dark sky, and their eyes were watching God.

Permalink Reply by Daysi Paniagua on September 12, 2012 at 4:24pm

I believe that Janie had God around her all the time even when she didnt know. God was there to guide her and thanks to that she became the stong and happy woman she is now. I believe that god helped Janie become strong and more independent when the man that she loved,TeaCake had died. When she had returned to Eatenville or whatever its called, she faced the criticism that people were sayin and still stayed strong .

Permalink Reply by Dalia Espinoza on September 12, 2012 at 10:55pm

I agree with Daysi, God was always there when Janie needed someone. God helped Janie be strong and independent, but most importanly she became happy with herself even though she would get critizied. She didnt let the critizism bring her down because no one knew what she had to go through. This is why people say don't judge anyone without walking a mile in their shoes.

Permalink Reply by Maria Avila on September 12, 2012 at 5:05pm

Throughout the novel, God played a big role in Janies life, but the God she had isnt the same God we worship today. While she was lost, she looked for him so he can give her a sign to move on foward. When the hurrican accured that was one of the most crucial moments in her life. She didnt know if she would survive or live that is why she would look upon the sky to look for a sign from her God. But God never left her side, he answered all the doubts inside of her. At the end she found love and her happiness and that was all she ever asked for.

Permalink Reply by jesus garcia on September 12, 2012 at 5:28pm

I agree with Maria because throughout the story Janie encountered many problems one of which being the hurricane and she would always turn to god for help and he would show her the way every time.

Permalink Reply by Marisol Rizo on September 12, 2012 at 5:18pm

Perhaps Janie is talking about the God Almighty, thr one above us. She was watching God to see if she could be steered in the right direction and given the motivation to move on with her life without all the judgements affecting her.

In my opinion a crucial moment for Janie was when she had to live the lifestyle Joe obligated her to live.

Yes, God does answer Janie's questioning, when she had doubts about how she was living her life and the decisions she had made, God kept pushing her forward in the right direction.