A Journey Towards Self-Identity And Self-Fulfillment

Zora Neale Hurston (1891—1960) is one of the most remarkable and influential Afro-American writers in American literary canon. Their Eyes Were Watching God, her masterpiece, presents an unusual figure in American literature—Janie Crawford who struggles all her life in search of her identity and fulfillment as a woman and a black. Out of print for decades after first publication in 1937, Their Eyes Were Watching God has brought substantial reevaluation since 1970's.This thesis will apply black feminism to the study of Their Eyes Were Watching God. The purpose is to explore black women's potentiality, their social value and their efforts in seeking powerful support in them and in black culture so as to actualize freedom, equality, and liberation in the racial and patriarchal society.The thesis is composed of five parts.Chapter One serves as an introduction to Zora Neale Hurston's life experiences, Their Eyes Were Watching God and black feminism.Chapter Two analyzes Janie's suffering under racial oppression and patriarchal domination, thus points out black women are victims of the double oppressions and the internalized racism among blacks is a dangerous canker for black society.Chapter Three provides a detailed analysis of Janie's hard journey toward awakening.Chapter Four focuses on analysis of Janie's third marriage. Janie eventually finds true self in her third marriage and achieves her fulfillment by recognition of black culture.The last part gives a conclusion of the whole thesis and a positive affirmation to Hurston's attitude to black culture. The portrait of Janie Crawford may inspire other black women who are struggling to seek their identities. As long as they keep on struggling against racial discrimination and patriarchal domination and cherish black culture, they are bound to find their true existence.