Their Eyes Were Watching God Novel Synopsis
Abigail Boberg
Their Eyes Were Watching God,
set in the early 1900’s, follows the life of Janie Crawford, an African
American woman who is searching for love. The story begins as Janie returns to
Eatonville, Florida, where she once lived. Amidst the mockery of the
townspeople, she tells the story of her life to her dearest friend, Phoeby.
Janie is
raised by her grandmother, an emancipated slave, whose dream is to give Janie a
secure and prosperous life. When Janie is sixteen, her grandmother forces her
to marry Logan, a respected farmer with sixty acres of land. He doesn’t love
Janie, and Janie doesn’t love him.
Disillusioned,
she runs off with Joe Starks, a wealthy and ambitious businessman, who seems to
fulfill her dreams of love. Together they start a general store, and Joe is
appointed mayor of the town. He becomes self-important and domineering,
ordering Janie around the store, comparing her with witless animals, and
forcing her to hide her hair in a kerchief. When she finally rebels, he sulks
and is full of self-pity. He refuses to see Janie or let her do anything for
him. Joe becomes seriously ill and, after twenty years of marriage, he dies.
Janie lets her hair down and exults in her freedom.
While
managing the store after Joe’s death, Janie meets Tea Cake, a young man who
catches her attention and makes her laugh. He wins Janie’s trust and love.
Despite public criticism, she marries him and moves south. They spend several
years in the Lake Okeechobee area, picking beans in good company and earning
good money. They do everything together, and love each other jealously. They
are warned about the coming hurricane, but decide to sit it through. As the
water level rises, Tea Cake and Janie realize that their home will be swept
away, and so decide to brave the flood. They have almost escaped when Janie,
exhausted, is blown into deep water and almost drowns. Tea Cake is bitten by a
rabid dog while rescuing her.
As the
weeks go by, Tea Cake begins to show signs of derangement. He attacks Janie,
and she is forced to shoot him. She is tried in court for murder, and is found
not guilty. Janie walks back to Eatonville, still wearing Tea Cake’s overalls.
Having
finished her story, Janie thinks of Tea Cake. She realizes that she can keep
him alive by remembering him.
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