Their Eyes Were Watching God

2. How does this book serve as a revision of the Slave Narrative? What components were in the slave narrative that you see here? What components are missing or “revised?”

Their Eyes Were Watching God is an intriguing revision of the slave narrative. Zora Neale Hurston parallels Janie’s female imprisonment as an unhappy wife searching for self-actualization with the traditional slave narrative. There are elements of captivation, oppression, and escape within Hurston’s novel.

Janie’s grandmother in the story actually was a slave. She was impregnated by her master, giving birth to Janie’s mulatto mother. She managed to escape and find emancipation, becoming economically independent, owning her own house and raising her granddaughter. As a product of slavery, Janie’s grandmother values stability and safety above all else. She marries Janie off to the mundane farmer Logan Killicks to ensure Janie’s economic security. It has nothing to do with the man’s personality; her grandmother tells her quite plainly, “’Tain’t Logan Killicks Ah want you to have, baby, it’s protection. Ah ain’t gittin’ ole, honey. Ah’m done ole” (15). In this nouveau slave narrative, Janie’s first marriage essentially represents Janie being “sold” into slavery (wedlock) by her master (grandmother). Janie has no control over her servitude to Logan. She is miserable and unbearably bored in this life.

When Janie spots Joe Starks walking down the road, she sees her chance to escape. She runs off with Jodie, accompanying him on his quest to establish a thriving colored community. Janie harbors an eternal hunger for excitement, passion, and independence, but Jodie does not offer these to his new bride. The possibility of freedom seems synonymous with Joe Starks, but Janie quickly realizes that he is only interested in having a respectable politician’s wife on his arm. He only loves Janie as an extension of himself- as a possession that is meant to be seen, not heard. Her opinions and aspirations are stifled under Jodie’s ego. Once again, Janie finds herself a slave to Jodie’s dominance. Her sexuality and her ardor for life is oppressed. Joe barks orders to his wife in front of the townspeople, and ridicules her because of his own insecurities. This time, Janie does not look for an escape route; instead, Jodie is the one that sets Janie free with his rapidly deteriorating health and resulting death. Janie finds solace in Jodie’s passing, and finally feels a sense of freedom. She takes off her head scarf and lets her hair down, an act of defiance that Jodie prohibited. Relieved and emancipated, Janie is content with her life.

At this point, Tea Cake enters and sparks a fire in Janie’s heart. Together, they build a life centered around true love and equality. They love each other for who they are, and do not attempt to impose changes on one another. They start their new existence together as a team, working alongside each other in the Everglades and living their lives to the fullest, with parties and friends that share in their happiness. We, the readers, are finally introduced to a Janie that exudes pure joy. We might conclude that this is the end of her symbolic slavery, but that assumption is wrong. Although Tea Cake embodies real love for Janie, she is still bound to his happiness. Tea Cake gives Janie’s life meaning, and provides her with a source of love and desire. We celebrate in Janie’s joyous union, but it is still a union- not independence. Mentally, Janie is still searching for someone else to complete her, when her true completion should come from within. This self-discovery is finally achieved by the end of the novel, after Tea Cake’s death. Janie concludes that her soul is at peace because she is a slave to no one, for good or bad. The only person that can supply her with freedom is herself.

Works Cited
"slave narrative." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 12 Nov. 2009 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/548224/slave-narrative>.