Journal #8

What is the significance of the title? What does Hurston suggest about the relationship between the characters and God

The significance of the title is the fact that these characters don't believe they have full control of their lives, that God plays a big role in determining certain outcomes. This is shown when Tea Cake worried that Janie regreted the move to the Everglades with a possible impending death, and she argued, "Naw. We been tuhgether round two years. If you kin see de light at day break, you don't keer if you die at dusk. It's so many people never seen de light at all. Ah wuz fumblin' round and God opened de door." (Hurston 159). God didn't necessarily put her and Tea Cake together, but gave her the opportunity to be with him by opening more possibilities. The title "They Eyes Were Watching God" refers to the fact that God controls nature as a way to test his people, and his people are fully aware of this, which is why they “watch” him to see what he has in store next. God had tested Janie with the open door and she took that opportunity. He is now testing the strength of the relationship between Janie and Tea Cake, which proved to be strong in the midst of a deadly storm.