Oppression in Their Eyes Were Watching God

The Use of Race in Their Eyes Were Watching God This novel, while poetically conveying a black woman's pursuit of true love, seriously addresses society's ability to be judgmental and oppressive. Gender, race, economic security, and social stratification share equally important roles in the development of the main character, Janie. Hurston vividly describes how each qualification specifically affects the character, although the racial implications are much more subtle. This subtlety allows the reader to mistakenly …

…of mind using this method of exposing emotions. Despite these examples of injustice towards people, solely because of their skin color, the novel does not portray Hurston as a bigot. Without conveying an image of a racially accepting society and having Janie realize that her happiness is dependent exclusively on her reactions to external stimulus, the novel closes with positive feelings. The author places the responsibility for personal happiness on Janie, and subsequently, the reader.