Contextual Element: Author Bio
By Alissa Helle
Author Bio
“I have the nerve to walk my own way, however hard, in my search for reality, rather than climb upon the rattling wagon of wishful illusions.” Hurston wrote in a letter to Countee Cullen (Boyd). Zora Neale Hurston, an American folklorist, anthropologist, and author, was born on January 7, 1891 in Notasulga, Alabama (Wikipedia). Her father was a carpenter, sharecropper, and a preacher. Her mother was a former schoolteacher. She had seven siblings growing up (GradeSaver). As a toddler Hurston moved to Eatonville, Florida where she grew up. Eatonville was a small black community. When Hurston was just 13, her mother passed away. Her father quickly remarried and Hurston soon left the household. She struggled to find work and at age 26, she had not yet finished high school. In order to receive free public schooling, she took 10 years off of her age. She looked very young and beautiful so it was easy for her to get away with (Boyd). She attended Howard University where she earned her two-year Associates degree. Hurston graduated from Bernard College in 1928. During her schooling, she had written several short stories and articles as well as her first novel (GradeSaver). However, she still had much more to accomplish. She then completed graduate work at Columbia University, published four novels and an autobiography, and continued to travel to the Caribbean. In the mid-1940s Hurston struggled with her career and she was accused of molesting a ten-year-old boy (Boyd). Hurston was released, and she proceeded to do several odd jobs. She then suffered a stroke and died on January 28, 1960 in Fort Pierce, Florida of hypertensive heart disease. Although she passed, her works are still popular today. “Sweat” (1926), “Hoodoo in America” (1931), Jonah’s Gourd Vine (1934), Mules and Men (1935), Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), Tell My Horse (1938), Dust Tracks on a Road (1942), Spunk: Selected Stories (1985), and Mule Bone: A Comedy of Negro Life, were just some the writings she left behind (Wikipedia).
Connections
I found many connections between Hurston’s life and the life of Janie. I first noticed that Janie grew up in Eatonville, an all-black town, as well as Hurston. She was surrounded by people who were independent from society. Also, when Hurston’s mother died it was a lot similar to the death of Nanny in the novel. After these deaths came another “replacement” in the family that both Hurston and Janie did not get along with. Janie’s character was very beautiful despite her age, and she married a man ten years younger than her. Hurston was also very young looking and beautiful as she claimed she was ten years younger and got away with it. There are several other examples throughout the story that show how Janie’s character is a reflection of Hurston. The novel shows Hurston’s worldviews and dynamic character throughout her life. Many plot elements relate to Hurston’s life as well. The setting of the novel, for example, is Eatonville, Florida the same place Hurston grew up. The story has many historical connections that were happening during Hurston’s life with segregation. Their Eyes Were Watching God is a story that Hurston most likely wrote with herself in mind, but there were probably more connections to the her and the book than she predicted.
Works Cited
"Biography of Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1959)." GradeSaver. N.p., 1999. Web. 7 May 2014.
Boyd, Valerie. "About Zora Neale Hurston." Zora Neale Hurston. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2014.
"Zora Neale Hurston." Wikipedia. N.p., 3 May 2014. Web. 8 May 2014.
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