Their Eyes Were Watching God Feminist Analysis

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Their Eyes Were Watching God” is known as a “feminist” novel since Zora Neal Hurston published one of the first major novels by an African-American woman. Feminism is frequently associated with the idea of the advocacy of women's rights and equality between men and women; however, this novel opens with the perspective of gender difference. Zora Neal Hurston has a different viewpoint than the typical women in America did during that time period. The idea of women not being able to distinguish dreams from reality is recurred throughout “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” In the novel, Janie searches for love with a man who can fulfill her needs as well as someone who can complement her. She is longing for a love that none of her past husbands provided her with while the men in the novel are simply attempting to fill their respective needs and live a practical life. “Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others …show more content…
Being a feminist novel and not portraying women’s rights in the novel was an unusual but unique perspective. The women are said to be idealistic considering Janie and Nanny constantly trying to chase a specific dream and assuring that it comes true. Also, that women hope more than the men do in the novel regarding their hopes and dreams. Men, on the other hand, are practical and know the difference between a dream and reality. The men in the novel, such as Logan Killicks, Joe Starks, and Tea Cake are representations of men that live for that particular day. None of the men in “Their Eyes Were Watching God” chased a dream of theirs and the accept the way their lives currently are. The statements in the beginning of the novel are apparent in the actions of the men and women. In the end, once Tea Cake dies, Janie changes her ways and realizes that her dream is