Why Were Their Eyes Watching God?
In chapter 18 of the novel, Hurston uses the title of her book as imagery to describe the situation Janie, Tea Cake, and Motor Boat are in. Hurston writes, " They sat in company with the others in other shanties, their eyes straining against crude walls and their souls asking if He meant to measure their puny might against His. They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God" (160). Why does Hurston use this phrase and why is this the moment she decides to add it to the novel? There is direct symbolism of this phrase, but it also relates to the concept of uncontrollable forces throughout the novel. The direct symbolism of "Their eyes were watching God" can be seen pretty clearly. This group of people is stuck in a house that is on the verge of flooding. At the same time the only bit of light they have left gets put out and they are left in the dark waiting. None of them speak or know what to do so the only thing they are left to do