Examples Of Individualism In Their Eyes Were Watching God

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Evolving Individualism in Their Eyes were Watching God Zora Neale Hurston is a renowned author of the twentieth century, and established the foundation for African American literature. Hurston’s writing career began in 1921 when she published her first story, “John Redding Goes to Sea” and a poem “O Night” in the literary magazine at Howard University. In 1937, Hurston’s published her famous novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. In the 1940’s and 1950’s Hurston’s writing career failed. In 1960 she died from a stroke. Ten years after Hurston’s death author Alice Walker helped revive the public’s interest in Zora Neale Hurston’s works. An article published in the Philadelphia Tribune states that “[Their Eyes Were Watching God] was reprinted at the height of the…show more content…
The novel is mostly told from Janie’s perspective as she recounts her life story to her best friend Phoeby. Hurston’s novel follows Janie as she searches for her own authentic self. Janie—like other women past and present—wants her own identity, and in finding herself she learns how to be assertive in order to find the self fulfillment every woman wishes to possess. Perhaps Janie’s childhood influences impacted her lifelong search for individualism. As a girl Janie is raised by her African American grandmother named Nanny. Nanny experienced slavery for a portion of her life. Later on Nanny has one daughter, Janie’s mother, who is raped by a white man. Following Janie’s birth her mother runs away leaves Nanny to raise her. As a girl Janie sees a photo of herself and learns of her dark complexion. Although Janie is surprised, she is not upset. When Janie is sixteen Nanny arranges for her to marry Logan
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