Zora Neale Hurston’s story Their Eyes Were Watching God is about an African American woman, Janie, who faces many hardships in life that guide her to her conclusion of enlightenment. This story is unarguably one of Hurston’s best works and applies to today despite the novel being almost ninety years old. The book is also filled with lots of literary devices, one that is reoccurring the most being symbolism. The symbolism in the novel not only relate to the characters in the book, but also to the African Americans in the present.
There is an endless variety of symbolism in Their Eyes Were Watching God. “Seeing the woman as she was made them remember the envy they had stored up from other times. So, they chewed up the back parts of their minds and swallowed with relish. (Hurston 2)” During this time, gossiping and rumors were not new, but what this is saying is that sometimes being quiet is the best option and checking up their minds and swallowing it symbolizes handling that rage, and disposing of it, which is what Janie does. “They made burning statements with questions, and killing tools out of laughs. It was mass cruelty. (Hurston 2)” The women that gossiped and spoke about Janie were extremely cruel, the “burning statements” are those that may induce rage upon Janie, and the “killing tools” that come from the laughter means that their laughs make her and possibly other women, feel very melancholy and conscious. “Freedom found me wid a baby daughter in mah arms, so Ah said Ah’d take a broom and a cook-pot and throw up a highway through de wilderness for her. (Hurston 19)” Nanny was born into slavery so it was never easy for her, she was not free, but her having a child of her own, symbolized her first glimpse of freedom, and the freedom she has in that, is the opportunity to raise that child as her own, and make decisions and sacrifices for her. There are plenty of symbolic pieces in this novel, that perfectly depicture what exactly goes on around the characters.
The symbolism in the story not only applies to the characters, but to modern African Americans. “You know, honey, us colored folks is branches without roots and that makes things come round in queer ways. (Hurston 19)” Today, some African Americans are ashamed of the past and what White people did with their oppression, which tends to be a reoccurring topic all throughout the world, their roots aren’t too poppy. “Ah don’t want yo’ feathers always crumpled by folks throwin’ up things in yo’ face. And Ah can’t die easy thinkin’ maybe de menfolks white or black is makin’ a spit cup outa you. (Hurston 24)” Some African Americans are too fragile in today’s world and are easy to break when mocked or stereotyped by other people, the feathers refers to their cool, or control, although many people today may be racist, this story tells one to never submit to people trying to bring you down. The symbolism in this story applies to today, even though it is an incredibly old novel.
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Hurston is a novel with lots of themes and rich symbolism. The symbolism emphasized exactly how the characters in the novel were feeling and what it’s like to be in their shoes. The symbolism can also be applied to today’s events which is very impressive and generic. While the story captured Janie’s as well as her surrounding character’s situation, it also shows how it’s like to be an African American today. Stories that can speak to an audience almost a hundred years later, are the most powerful ones.

Works Cited
Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God. 1937.

That is very good. And because its black history month this is a wonderful time to share this. A lot of people don't like reading stories or an essay when it comes to African American. But with me, (and not just because I am african american) i love to learn new things about every culture that there is on this earth.

I will never be able to understand how people could be so cruel and uneducated back then and when I say back then it wasn't so long ago. Slavery still takes place in many forms, but because we are addressing black history I wouldn't stand here or sit and began to say I know how a whole Nation of African American and kin feel even today, but as a white lady I can say what I have seen and heard with my own eyes and what I have read and watched on media devices has shaken me to the core of every fiber in my being. There is no going back to undo the past, but standing up and making changes together. There is a difference in ever nationality and everyone one of us need to be proud of who we are and where we came from. I am truly sorry for the pain that our ancestors and ignorant people today cause African American people, but together we all can stand and rise up together and make this a better place for the next generation and their generation and on. Be blessed