That was something that confuses me first. I did not see the connections between the name of the title and the novel itself. I think I still can not see that. Maybe God was found in the passion of the main character. "They" are those who are mirroring God in their actions. Those who are going through the straggles usually turn to believe in God. This is my guess. It is hard for me to see the relationships between the title and the novel.
Throughout the story, the author uses the narrator voice to tell us the story. Although we know that the challenges that Janie faces are difficult, and want to help her, we cannot do anything but watch from the distance. In this novel God exist from the beginning to the end. He plays a big part in Janie's life. For example, pear tree that Janie always talks to is a symbol of God's creation. It also mentions how Nanny depends on God and use that power to shape Janie’s life, “Here Nanny had taken the biggest thing God ever made, the horizon- for no matter how far a person can go the horizon is still way beyond you- and pinched it in to such a little bit of a thing that she could tie it about her granddaughter’s neck enough to choke her” (89). Nanny tries to change Janie’s fate by forcing her to take a journey to the horizon, although it’s unclear to her. It is all about Janie’s life. It decribes how she overcomes the challenges and be able to tell the story of her life to her best friend, Phoeby.
I quite agree with Night's idea! I think God did exist throughout the whole book. The creation of god shows his existence, other than this, I found out something from the first few chapters. Nanny and Janie did pray to god. That makes the title makes sense as they are the characters in this book, Janie and Nanny are those who depend on god. They see god as a important part of their life. They pray to god about important things and Nanny taught Janie to pray to god whenever she needs to. Nanny and Janie were watching god's will, they were watching how will god react to their prayers. They obey to the god and that explains the word "watching" in the title. Nanny did taught Janie a lot about god and it leads Janie to depend more and more on God. It's hard to guess the meaning between the title and the story, they seem to be two different things, as I think more, I got this idea in my mind although I am not sure about the answer.
I think that the title can be correlated to the different characters in the book. There is the one line in the book when the title is presented to the reader, which reads: "They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God." It's hard to distinguish exactly what this means, but I think it refers to the characters in the book and how even though their actions may not have been justified as perfect and virtuous, they still had this relationship with God. They ultimately obtained a sense of faith and looked to God. Janie is a perfect example who looked to God and was at one with Him at the end of the novel when she says to Pheoby, "two things everybody got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin' fuh theyselves." Janie greatly exemplifies the person who finds herself by following God.
Also, adding to the quote Sophaneth brings up,“Here Nanny had taken the biggest thing God ever made, the horizon- for no matter how far a person can go the horizon is still way beyond you...” (89), I think that the horizon shows what Janie longs for and is therefore a big reference to God.
I think that the beginning paragraph of the book gives insight to the meaning of the title. "Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. For some they come with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turn his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men." I think that the Watcher is God. I also think that the dreams of the Watcher refer to the fact that sometimes God has greater things in mind for us than we do for oursleves. When we match our gaze to that of God, that is when we reach the horizon instead of endlessly drifting around always wishing or dreaming for things that won't ever bring us true happiness.
I also agree with what Jansen said about Janie being an example of looking to God and finding happiness. Janie explained how she reached the horizon, "two things everybody got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tugh go to God, and they got tuh find out about livin' fuh theyselves."
Throughout the novel, it was as if Janie had no control over her life. First, Nanny forced her to marry Logan, then she was controlled by Jody. Even though her relationship with Tea Cake seems like the final one that finally brings her happiness, the storm and Tea Cake's unfortunate infection makes things difficult. Regardless of the hardship that Janie is constantly surrounded with, it is her faith in God that keeps her sane and progressing in her life journey.
Kylie, if the Watcher is God, why would the God "turn his eyes away in resignation"? or why would "his [God's] dreams be mocked to death by Time"? God does not give up or change his mind, nor does Time have any effect on God. Other than that, I agree with the rest of it, "God has greater things in mind for us than we do for ourselves..." Once Janie understands who she is and what God wants, her life becomes better. It doesn't mean that her trials are over, but life is better in a sense that she is left with a greater understanding of God and her life. We are not completely sure what happens to Janie, but where the novel ends suggest that Janie has a peace of mind.
my guess about the title is that it goes along with the spiritual quest janie goes through to reach her horizon. she goes through this journey and finds comfort in her sprituality that go will redeem her from everything. there's a part in the book during the storm that "their were watching god" that shows us however different everyone was they were all connected in this helpless moment and all they had was each other and their hope and faith in god.
From my point of view, Jenny tried to peruse her pure love, but she has not met a pure love in her dream yet. The reason that her eyes keep watching God because she wants God to let her dream came true. Unfortunately, there is no God in the novel; it is her imagination to give her a hope
There was only one place in the whole novel that I remember that says "their eyes were watching God" It was when Janie and Tea Cake were waiting for the hurricane to pass by "They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God." This shows how no matter how people try to act powerful and strong, people eventually need to and will turn to God. This is summed up by the last words of Janie, "Two things everybody's got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh god, and they got tuh find out about livin' fuh themselves." This was the lesson Janie learned from the journey. People need to turn to God.
here is my thought of the title of "their eyes were watching god"... Throughout the book, the author protrays the different characters have different views of God, for example, Jody tries to be a God when he installs the light in the street, and also Tea cake stays against the hurricane because he thinks that he can handle the hurricane. Those descriptions help readers to know "their" are the main characters in the book and "their eyes were watching god" means the different views about God.
Im not completely sure, but I feel that the title their eyes were watching god was based off of Janies attention to nature and how nature is of god. Also when Janie and Tea Cake in the storm, they were literally watching gods power form their fates and their lives.I could be completly wrong, but that is just an idea.
In my opinion, the title mean vulnerable groups, such as Janie in this novel, gaze at God and look forward to get blessing and help from God. When people have strong faith in God, God will exist in people's heart.Vulnerable groups in society are watching God.The novel reflects vulnerable groups have miserable fate, so they want to get mental comfort.
I feel like we all have the same general idea of what the title means. The line "their eyes were watching god" is used in the story during the turbulence of the hurricane, but it obviously was intended to have more meaning considering it is also the title. The story is filled with a sequence of events that ultimately leads Janie, and nearly every character at some point, to rely on their faith in God, hence the title, "Their Eyes Were Watching God."
i think that the reason for the title was to help us search for the meaning of the story. i agree with what every one else said. and i also think that during the storm where the line "their eyes were watching god" is actually in the novel, is probably the most climatic point. That scene was a changing point in janies life. I also agree that God played a role throughout the novel. he was always there even thought he wasnt talked about.
That was something that confuses me first. I did not see the connections between the name of the title and the novel itself. I think I still can not see that. Maybe God was found in the passion of the main character. "They" are those who are mirroring God in their actions. Those who are going through the straggles usually turn to believe in God. This is my guess. It is hard for me to see the relationships between the title and the novel.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the story, the author uses the narrator voice to tell us the story. Although we know that the challenges that Janie faces are difficult, and want to help her, we cannot do anything but watch from the distance. In this novel God exist from the beginning to the end. He plays a big part in Janie's life. For example, pear tree that Janie always talks to is a symbol of God's creation. It also mentions how Nanny depends on God and use that power to shape Janie’s life, “Here Nanny had taken the biggest thing God ever made, the horizon- for no matter how far a person can go the horizon is still way beyond you- and pinched it in to such a little bit of a thing that she could tie it about her granddaughter’s neck enough to choke her” (89). Nanny tries to change Janie’s fate by forcing her to take a journey to the horizon, although it’s unclear to her. It is all about Janie’s life. It decribes how she overcomes the challenges and be able to tell the story of her life to her best friend, Phoeby.
ReplyDeleteI quite agree with Night's idea! I think God did exist throughout the whole book. The creation of god shows his existence, other than this, I found out something from the first few chapters. Nanny and Janie did pray to god. That makes the title makes sense as they are the characters in this book, Janie and Nanny are those who depend on god. They see god as a important part of their life. They pray to god about important things and Nanny taught Janie to pray to god whenever she needs to. Nanny and Janie were watching god's will, they were watching how will god react to their prayers. They obey to the god and that explains the word "watching" in the title. Nanny did taught Janie a lot about god and it leads Janie to depend more and more on God. It's hard to guess the meaning between the title and the story, they seem to be two different things, as I think more, I got this idea in my mind although I am not sure about the answer.
ReplyDeleteI think that the title can be correlated to the different characters in the book. There is the one line in the book when the title is presented to the reader, which reads: "They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God." It's hard to distinguish exactly what this means, but I think it refers to the characters in the book and how even though their actions may not have been justified as perfect and virtuous, they still had this relationship with God. They ultimately obtained a sense of faith and looked to God. Janie is a perfect example who looked to God and was at one with Him at the end of the novel when she says to Pheoby, "two things everybody got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin' fuh theyselves." Janie greatly exemplifies the person who finds herself by following God.
ReplyDeleteAlso, adding to the quote Sophaneth brings up,“Here Nanny had taken the biggest thing God ever made, the horizon- for no matter how far a person can go the horizon is still way beyond you...” (89), I think that the horizon shows what Janie longs for and is therefore a big reference to God.
I think that the beginning paragraph of the book gives insight to the meaning of the title. "Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. For some they come with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turn his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men." I think that the Watcher is God. I also think that the dreams of the Watcher refer to the fact that sometimes God has greater things in mind for us than we do for oursleves. When we match our gaze to that of God, that is when we reach the horizon instead of endlessly drifting around always wishing or dreaming for things that won't ever bring us true happiness.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with what Jansen said about Janie being an example of looking to God and finding happiness. Janie explained how she reached the horizon, "two things everybody got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tugh go to God, and they got tuh find out about livin' fuh theyselves."
Throughout the novel, it was as if Janie had no control over her life. First, Nanny forced her to marry Logan, then she was controlled by Jody. Even though her relationship with Tea Cake seems like the final one that finally brings her happiness, the storm and Tea Cake's unfortunate infection makes things difficult. Regardless of the hardship that Janie is constantly surrounded with, it is her faith in God that keeps her sane and progressing in her life journey.
ReplyDeleteKylie, if the Watcher is God, why would the God "turn his eyes away in resignation"? or why would "his [God's] dreams be mocked to death by Time"? God does not give up or change his mind, nor does Time have any effect on God.
Other than that, I agree with the rest of it, "God has greater things in mind for us than we do for ourselves..." Once Janie understands who she is and what God wants, her life becomes better. It doesn't mean that her trials are over, but life is better in a sense that she is left with a greater understanding of God and her life. We are not completely sure what happens to Janie, but where the novel ends suggest that Janie has a peace of mind.
my guess about the title is that it goes along with the spiritual quest janie goes through to reach her horizon. she goes through this journey and finds comfort in her sprituality that go will redeem her from everything. there's a part in the book during the storm that "their were watching god" that shows us however different everyone was they were all connected in this helpless moment and all they had was each other and their hope and faith in god.
ReplyDeleteFrom my point of view, Jenny tried to peruse her pure love, but she has not met a pure love in her dream yet. The reason that her eyes keep watching God because she wants God to let her dream came true. Unfortunately, there is no God in the novel; it is her imagination to give her a hope
ReplyDeleteThere was only one place in the whole novel that I remember that says "their eyes were watching God" It was when Janie and Tea Cake were waiting for the hurricane to pass by "They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God." This shows how no matter how people try to act powerful and strong, people eventually need to and will turn to God. This is summed up by the last words of Janie, "Two things everybody's got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh god, and they got tuh find out about livin' fuh themselves." This was the lesson Janie learned from the journey. People need to turn to God.
ReplyDeletehere is my thought of the title of "their eyes were watching god"...
ReplyDeleteThroughout the book, the author protrays the different characters have different views of God, for example, Jody tries to be a God when he installs the light in the street, and also Tea cake stays against the hurricane because he thinks that he can handle the hurricane. Those descriptions help readers to know "their" are the main characters in the book and "their eyes were watching god" means the different views about God.
This is just my thought=]
Im not completely sure, but I feel that the title their eyes were watching god was based off of Janies attention to nature and how nature is of god. Also when Janie and Tea Cake in the storm, they were literally watching gods power form their fates and their lives.I could be completly wrong, but that is just an idea.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the title mean vulnerable groups, such as Janie in this novel, gaze at God and look forward to get blessing and help from God. When people have strong faith in God, God will exist in people's heart.Vulnerable groups in society are watching God.The novel reflects vulnerable groups have miserable fate, so they want to get mental comfort.
ReplyDeleteI feel like we all have the same general idea of what the title means. The line "their eyes were watching god" is used in the story during the turbulence of the hurricane, but it obviously was intended to have more meaning considering it is also the title. The story is filled with a sequence of events that ultimately leads Janie, and nearly every character at some point, to rely on their faith in God, hence the title, "Their Eyes Were Watching God."
ReplyDeletei think that the reason for the title was to help us search for the meaning of the story. i agree with what every one else said. and i also think that during the storm where the line "their eyes were watching god" is actually in the novel, is probably the most climatic point. That scene was a changing point in janies life.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that God played a role throughout the novel. he was always there even thought he wasnt talked about.