I would say that this novel does reflect events in history pretty well. There were not any events that you could specifically point out, nothing like the Great Depression or anything like that. However, you could definitely make a good guess on when the story took place. The story takes place I believe, around the 1930's. There are many different ways you could back that up. First of all, this was a time period when many people decided to marry, not based on love really, but rather money and property. For example, at the beginning of the book Nanny tells Janie that she wants her to marry Logan Killicks. (Hurston, 15)Janie does not love Logan at all and barely even knows him, but Nanny knows that he can provide a good life for her. Also going along with my first point, there were several times in the book when Janie was criticized for wearing her long, lack hair down because it was considered improper. Many people believed that Janie was too old for wearing her hair like that and that it should be tied up in a head wrap for no one to see.
The different responsibilities that people have depend on their place in society. Some of this book deals with race, most conflict existing between black and white. There is also the different responsibilities between men and women. In this novel, men were obviously looked at as the head of the house or the one who had control. They worked to provide for their families and were aloud to converse with anyone they wanted to. Women on the other hand, were not always as respected. Some of them worked, like Janie, others stayed at home and watched the children and take care of the home. Although, they had just as an important of a job to do, they had limitations. Janie would always want to join in the conversation with Jody and his friends. Jody would never let Janie speak and would insist that she go back inside and run the store.(Hurston, 70)
Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God. New York: HarperCollins, 2000. Print.
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