Throughout the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, there are many similarities and connections between the author, Zora Neale Hurston, and the characters in the book. When Hurston was about three years old, she and her family moved to Eatonville, Florida which is one of the main settings in this novel. Her father was a Baptist preacher while she was growing up and it is evident (particularly in the title, “Their Eyes Were Watching God) that his profession influenced her literary works. The town Eatonville was truly the first incorporated black township in America and was established in 1887. This is strikingly similar to the Eatonville displayed in the book, it was established by Janie’s second husband, Jody. Jody becomes mayor of Eatonville which was the same in ‘real life’ for Hurston’s father. Also, in this work, the town of Eatonville is displayed as a utopia in the sense that there were not really any prejudices occurring. Hurston, as a writer was often accused and criticized for making her settings ‘picture perfect’ and displaying no ideas of racism.
There are not only similarities between Hurston’s life and the book, but Hurston herself and the main character of this novel, Janie. When Hurston was 13 years old, she lost her mother to heart disease and this greatly affected her because her mother was essentially her inspiration. She then grew up and was known to be the life of the party, although she worked hard as well. Both of these facts are mirrored in the life of Janie. She also lived the majority of her life without her mother and was always favored and loved by the people of the town, mostly for her looks. “Three or four stood behind her [Janie] and coached her moves and generally made merry with her...” (101).
Later on in Hurston’s life, she married a classmate from college, but this marriage only lasted around four years. She then went on to marry a man, Albert Price, who was 25 years younger than herself. These reflect the relationships in Janie’s life as well. Another interesting fact about Hurston is that she was once falsely accused of harassing a ten year old boy. This experience is displayed in Their Eyes Were Watching God when Janie is put on trial for a crime committed in defense and to protect her own life. It is safe to assume that Zora Neale Hurston’s life greatly influenced this work of art.
By: Emily Titus
