Their Eyes Were Watching God

Their Eyes Were Watching God, (1937), set in the Southern states of the US in the late 19th century, is perhaps Zora Neale Hurston's most well-known novel, and is considered by many to be a quasi-autobiographical novel.

Related Topics:
1937 - Southern - US - 19th century - Zora Neale Hurston - Autobiographical novel

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The book was adapted into the 2005 film Their Eyes Were Watching God by Suzan-Lori Parks and was produced by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Studios (Winfrey served as the host for the broadcast). It aired on ABC on March 16 2005 and received very high ratings.

Related Topics:
2005 - Their Eyes Were Watching God - Suzan-Lori Parks - Oprah Winfrey - ABC - March 16 - Ratings

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The main character, Janie, embarks on an epic journey. Her search for self-fufillment as a woman and as an African-American is paralleled with that of Odysseus as her journey takes her far and wide and pits her against the forces of nature and "monsters" that try to stop her from reaching self-actualization. Through Janie's trials, Hurston makes the claim that African-American women are marginalized by their society and admonishes the Negro race to reject the materialistic attitudes of their white masters and to obey only God. Hence, the title, which suggests passive submission to the will of the Creator.

Related Topics:
Journey - African-American - Odysseus

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The book, written in black southern dialect, has attracted criticism by those who claim it portrays African-Americans as ignorant. Similar criticisms have been leveled at Twain's Huckleberry Finn.

Related Topics:
Dialect - African-American - Huckleberry Finn

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