New Historicism

New Historicism and Eyes Watching God

New Historicism has developed from the "New" Criticism's inclination to treat

works of literature in a historical way. The New Historicist conditions include the fact

that images and narratives do important cultural work. They serve as a kind of workshop

where cultural problems, hopes, and obsessions are addressed or avoided. Consequently,

New Historicists argue that the best backdrop for interpreting literature is to place it in its

historical context. New Historicism plays an important role in understanding Zora Neale

Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. There are many problems and issues that are

touched by the author, mostly through the recollection of the main character, Janie

Crawford.

Racism is one of the main issues addressed in this novel as well. People were

discriminated against continuously because of the color of their skin. The influence of

white society is ever present, hanging over the novel like an oppressive cloud. For

example, Janie's husband Jody paints his house "a gloaty, sparkly white," (44) humiliates

the citizens of Eatonville in similar ways as the white man would, and forces Janie into the

slavish servitude reflected by the identity-confining head rag he makes her wear (51).

Janie fights Joe's tyranny by telling him off just before he dies in chapter eight. She then

reclaims her own identity by burning up "every one of her head rags" (85). Janie also

encounters Mrs. Turner, Hurston's symbol of internalized racism, who doesn't "blame de

white folks from hating (African-Americans) 'cause Ah can't stand 'em mahself" (135).

Most importantly, religion is an aspect which influences the plot. At that time,

people had little education, but their faith in God is what kept them going. They depended

on God to answer their payers. The following quote shows the point in the novel where

Hurston took the title of her book: "They sat in company with the others in other

shanties, their eyes straining against crude walls and their souls asking if He meant to

measure their puny might against His. They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes

were watching God" (151). "It's uh known fact, Pheoby, you got tuh go there tuh know

there.... Two things everybody's got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and

they got tuh find out about livin' fuh theyselves " (183) This shows that religion was a big

problem of the time. It is felt that everyone had not only the right, but also the

responsibility to find their God and to worship him if they wanted a chance at survival.

While many people feel envious of the money and power that Janie possesses

through her marriage with Logan Killicks, the potato