Top 2 Their Eyes Were Watching God quotes

  • "It was inevitable that she should accept any inconsistency and cruelty from her deity as all good worshippers do from theirs. All gods who receive homage are cruel. All gods dispense suffering without reason. Otherwise they would not be worshipped. Through indiscriminate suffering men know fear and fear is the most divine emotion. It is the stones for altars and the beginning of wisdom. Half gods are worshipped in wine and flowers. Real gods require blood.” - The narrator, Chapter 16

    These thoughts are presented by the Narrator as Janie tries to discourage Mrs. Turner from visiting her home as Teacake dislikes her presence in his home. Janie tries to be harsh with her, but she fails to be discouraged. It almost seems like she enjoys the ill-treatment that Janie directs her way, because, to her, Janie stands higher on the hierarchy of white features than her. So she believes that it is only natural for her god to be as cruel and meant to her as she is to those that have no white features at all.

  • The wind came back with triple fury, and put out the light for the last time. They sat in company with the others in other shanties, their eyes straining against crude walls and their souls asking if He meant to measure their puny might against His. They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God.” - The narrator, Chapter 18

    The chapter that deals with the struggle against the hurricane mark the climax of the novel, and this quote summarizes one of the central ideas that is explored in the novel that of humans against God. Several characters in the novel attempt to elevate themselves above the rest to occupy the place of God, but all of them are humbled by the unthinking and tumultuous power of nature. Janie finds herself sheltering from the storm in a home with Teacake and Motorboat. She finds herself united with the rest of humanity as all three of them helplessly watch the advance of nature's power.