Any time I begin a novel or poem I look to the title to foreshadow hints or clues as to the underlying meaning of the text. Their Eyes Were Watching God suggests that spirituality, religion, or faith will play a role in the book. But, as I read the novel, I still find myself wondering what the title means. As stated in the previous post, Janie is on a physical as well as spiritual journey. She is woman who believes in love and all of the power it holds. This is evident through the use of the metaphor of the pear tree and the bee. Throughout most of the book, there appears to be little faith or spirituality mentioned. Perhaps this is because Janie has yet to find love in the novel. Finally, in chapter eighteen, page 159, "Six eyes were watching God", makes reference to the title. This is stated as the hurricane is approaching and the nature that Janie had revered as beauty in the form of the pear tree turns violent in the storm and eventually the mad dog with hatred in his eyes. After her encounter with the staggering power of nature and the death of Tea Cake, Janie realizes that "true love" must be found within herself and no matter how much she or anyone believes they can control their own fate, that too, is left in the hands of God.
As you read through the novel in what ways are those concepts (faith, fate, love, and spirituality) revealed? How does Tea Cake appear to control the fate of Janie and himself? After reading the novel, what do you think the title means?
Ok then. I guess I'll start things off. I think "they" is referring to most of the main characters in the novel, and "their eyes are watching god" because they each have their own personal desires and goals they are striving to achieve. Janie is constantly striving to find a balance between independence and true love. Janie's first two husbands both attempt to use Janie to further themselves and their careers, which conflicts with Janie's own hopes and dreams. Tea Cake's ultimate goal is a happy and long life with Janie, which allows Janie to flourish as a person and realize her own hopes and dreams, and thus controlling the fate of Janie and himself by allowing them to achieve their respective goals.
ReplyDeleteIn Janie's first two marriages she ended up in a bad position. Her husbands were controlling and mean, but she always believes that there is happiness and love just around the corner. She thinks the best of everyone including Tea Cake even when people warn her that he is a bad person. Toward the middle of the book Tea Cake tries to take control of their lives by taking them to the Everglad in order to get ahead in life, but fate and God get in the way with the hurricane. When the water starts rising they realize that they are at the mercy of God and are waiting to see what will happen next. I think that the meaning of the title is that no matter what your desires in life are God has a plan for you and you can't control what it is. You cant change it, all you can do is hope that its good and not bad.
ReplyDeleteJanie got off to a bad start in her first two marriages. The husbands were controlling and wanted Janie to follow what they wanted and never let her think for herself. With Tea Cake, she was able to live the life she really wanted, by being active and doing the things that no one let her do in her youth. I believe the title means that even though you may try to control the outcome of your future, you really have no control. God is the one who writes history and you just have to go along and hope for the best of whats to come.
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with the overall consensus of the post above, but found that the main characters may not have been the only people classified under "they". I think that "they" were also some of the smaller characters such as; Logan, Pheoby, Nanny,etc. They also seemed to be looking to God for the answers to their lives and the answers to why Janie did what she did.
ReplyDeleteI think that Tea Cake helps Janie complete her search for herself but fate overpowers that. The natural disasters show that God has a plan for everyone even though we have certain desires. God has your life plan and no matter what you do it can not be changed.
ReplyDeleteAlso I like Kristina's point that the minor characters in the book fall under the "they" category as well as the major characters.
I agree with everyone on the statement that in the book the characters could not completely control their future. They could only look up toward God for the answers because he was the only one who knew what was in store for them.
ReplyDeleteTea Cake appears to control the fate of himself and Janie on a few different occasions throughout the book. He did this when he declared his love to her and suggested moving away. He also did this when he saved her life from the deranged dog. He truly loved her and appeared to have control over their fates based off his actions.
I believe that the title their eyes were watching god means their fate is controlled by God and it is only determined by him. They are "watching" for guidance or expectation of their own fate and I agree with brittany aboutTea Cake appears to control their fate by suggesting to move away.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jacob when he said "they" are the main characters and "their eyes are watching God" because they have their own "Personal Legend" (connecting this book and the Alchemist). The title to me when I first saw the book was making me wonder if I really wanted to read this one. "Their Eyes Were Watching God" made me wonder if this book was going to be about people in the South who were worshipers of God. But it obviously wasn't. I can agree with Kyle where their fate was determined by God. They looked up to him to guide them in the right direction.
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