Their Eyes Were Watching God is a novel that faced just as much controversy as its author, Zora Neale Hurston, did. After her death, however, it was revived by the efforts of Alice Walker and now stands as a classic Harlem Renaissance book on feminism and the experience of African American women. 

The entire story is a flashback, supporting Janie Crawford in the present day as she recounts her life story to her friend, Phoeby. The story outlines her life from when she was born to when she returned to Eatonville, where she is with Phoeby. Throughout the book, she needs to seek idealized love and self-fulfillment, while navigating discrimination and societal expectations in the process. 

Although part of her journey is learning to be independent of it, Janie’s story is often described by the relationships she has with her husbands. Her first is practical but loveless: it’s one she was forced into by her grandmother, whose character is largely shaped by the experiences she’s had as a previously enslaved woman. It shatters her vision of what marriage ‘should be’, so much so that when her second husband arrives, it’s an easy decision to run off with him. 

Janie is mistreated time and time again, with the suppression of her voice and identity emphasized heavily through the book with numerous symbols. The relationships are complex and a highlight of the book, often reflecting Janie’s self-perception and the self-worth she has. The consistent use of AAVE from nearly all the characters isn’t as controversial as it was at the time of its publication. Today, readers may find it confusing or hard to follow at times, but it’s generally viewed as another element to immerse readers into Janie’s story. 

With rich, descriptive prose that isn’t seen as too ‘over-the-top’ or ‘flowery’, Their Eyes Were Watching God is praised for its authenticity to the female African American experience, deeper meaning, and themes of self-fulfillment, identity, human vulnerability, and love.