On the Incompleteness of Janie's Self in Their Eyes Were Watching God

Their Eyes Were Watching God is written by Zora Neale Hurston, an important figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Being her representative work, the novel depicts stories of the heroine Janie. It is generally believed that this novel indicates how African American women get their identity. However, in this paper, efforts are made to analyze the incompleteness of Janie's self based on a close reading. By using theories related with feminism, this paper argues that Janie's lack of self-awareness and her compromises in three marriages contribute to the incompleteness of her self. Besides, her voice has been neglected throughout the novel.

heir Eyes Were Watching God is written by Zora Neale Hurston, an important figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Being her representative work, the novel depicts stories of the heroine Janie. It is generally believed that this novel indicates how African American women get their identity. However, in this paper, efforts are made to analyze the incompleteness of Janie’s self based on a close reading. By using theories related with feminism, this paper argues that Janie’s lack of self-awareness and her compromises in three marriages contribute to the incompleteness of her self. Besides, her voice has been neglected throughout the novel.