Novel Synopsis

Contextual Element: Novel Synopsis
By Josie Parker

     Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, takes place presumably around the 1920s and 1930s, in Florida. The story is arranged very specifically by Hurston. She begins the book, tells the story, and ends the book in the same place and setting that it started, with little time passing between those two points. The exposition of a novel reveals information about the characters and the setting of the story. In this exposition we learn that the story is set in the south, a rural area. We meet and learn about Janie. She is a likable character. From the beginning, readers feel sympathetic towards her and the decisions she has made. Janie sees her life “like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered and things enjoyed” (8). The rising action of the novel occurs when Janie needs to start to make decisions. She starts to think about her own views. She tries hard to be self-assertive. She leaves Logan and returns to her grandmother, as she believes she can never love an older man. She then decides to follow Joe Starks, who takes her to Eatonville. When Joe dies at an early age, Janie falls for Tea Cake, who proves strong devotion for her. The hurricane that occurs is also included in the rising action. The story climaxes when Tea Cake proves his devotion to Janie, as he fights off a mad dog to save her. A major conflict develops when Tea Cake then contracts rabies from the dog. Janie must then shoot him to save herself again. She is tried for murder, but is proven innocent. The story resolves with Janie returning to Eatonville, and readers are back to the beginning of the story; Janie telling the story to Pheoby. Janie is content alone as she says “Here is peace” (193). The story ends with Janie alone and at peace.