Zora Neale Hurston S Their Eyes Were Watching God

The rediscovery of Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, first published in 1937 but subsequently out-of-print for decades, marks one of the most dramatic chapters in African-American literature and Women's Studies. Its popularity owes much to the lyricism of the prose, the pitch-perfect rendition of black vernacular English, and the memorable characters--most notably, Janie Crawford. Collecting the most widely cited and influential essays published on Hurston's classic novel over the last quarter century, this Casebook presents contesting viewpoints by Hazel Carby, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Barbara Johnson, Carla Kaplan, Daphne Lamothe, Mary Helen Washington, and Sherley Anne Williams. The volume also includes a statement Hurston submitted to a reference book on twentieth-century authors in 1942. As it records the major debates the novel has sparked on issues of language and identity, feminism and racial politics, A Casebook charts new directions for future critics and affirms the classic status of the novel.

Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God highlights the vitality of African American culture. This casebook demonstrates how African Americans fashioned themselves individually and collectively to combat racism, classism, and sexism. With provocative documents that contextualize the complex issues of the novel, Lester provides an excellent resource for students and teachers first approaching the excitement and cultural flavor that define Hurston's novels. The casebook is an encyclopedia of African American folk culture that simultaneously presents historical, political, and social commentary on the relationships between men and women and between blacks and whites in America. Documents include interviews with people living in the South at the time of the novel's publication, poetry, rap, folktales, and sermons. Also included are original materials on ebonics, minstrel songs, the blues tradition, the novel in theatrical and dance performance, and materials on Hurston's hometown of Eatonville, Florida.

An analysis of the literary values of Hurston's novel, as well as its reception--from largely dismissive reviews in 1937, through a revival of interest in the 1960s and its recent establishment as a major American novel.

Zora Neale Hurston wrote her most famous novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, while in Haiti on a trip funded by a Guggenheim fellowship to research the region’s transatlantic folk and religious culture; this work grounded what would become her ethnography Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica. The essays in Zora Neale Hurston, Haiti, and “Their Eyes Were Watching God” persuasively demonstrate that Hurston’s study of Haitian Voudoun informed the characterization, plotting, symbolism, and theme of her novel. Much in the way that Voudoun and its North American derivative Voodoo are syncretic religions, Hurston’s fiction enacts a syncretic, performative practice of reference, freely drawing upon Greco-Roman, Judeo-Christian, and Haitian Voudoun mythologies for its political, aesthetic, and philosophical underpinnings. Zora Neale Hurston, Haiti, and “Their Eyes Were Watching God” connects Hurston’s work more firmly to the cultural and religious flows of the African diaspora and to the literary practice by twentieth-century American writers of subscripting in their fictional texts symbols and beliefs drawn from West and Central African religions.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston: Immerse yourself in the compelling narrative of "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston. This classic novel explores the journey of its protagonist, Janie Crawford, in search of identity, love, and self-discovery. Key Aspects of the Book "Their Eyes Were Watching God": Identity and Empowerment: Hurston's novel delves into the themes of self-discovery and empowerment as Janie Crawford navigates her own path in a changing world. Cultural Exploration: The book offers a rich exploration of African American culture, folklore, and community in the early 20th century. Narrative Voice: "Their Eyes Were Watching God" is celebrated for its distinctive narrative voice and storytelling style. Zora Neale Hurston was a prominent author, anthropologist, and key figure of the Harlem Renaissance. Her novel remains a literary treasure in the exploration of African American experiences.

This compelling volume examines Zora Neale Hurston's life and writings, with a specific look at key ideas related to Their Eyes Were Watching God. Essays discuss a variety of topics, including whether the novel can be viewed as an example for all women, whether it still relevant today, and whether it proves that romantic fantasies cannot last. The book also explores contemporary perspectives on women's issues, such as the idea of women creating their own model of a female hero and the impact of white stereotypes on modern black women.