Eatonville Symbolism

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There is a seemingly endless number of sayings and expressions about where one’s true home is and how much that translates to their personality and their outlook on the world. The aphorism that seems to ring true for Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God is the first century Roman proverb of, “home is where the heart is”. This proverb is impeccable for the novel because of how Janie calls three distinct locations “home”; West Florida, Eatonville, and Okechobee. West Florida symbolizes a home where, while being stuck in time, there is lots of room for intellectual and spiritual growth; Eatonville symbolizes a home where Janie loses all of her virtue and self-worth from an abusive and arrogant husband; Okechobee symbolizes a final …show more content…
Nonetheless, Eatonville is still a place where Janie matures; Eatonville breaks down Janie’s self-worth and confidence with the help of Joe, allowing for it to grow back again soon. Hurston noes, “She had never thought of making a speech, and didn’t know if she cared to make one at all. It must have been the way Joe spoke out without giving her a chance to say anything one way or another that took the bloom off of things” (Hurston, 43). As Janie thinks back over what Joe had done, she thinks, “It must have been the way Joe spoke out without giving her a chance to say anything”, these words show how Joe believes she is incapable of giving a speech but also, they show how slowly over time with the help of Joe, Eatonville wears down Janie’s self-worth. After Joe interrupts Janie, this action is the one “that took the bloom off of things”, Joe’s actions completely stripped away any hope that remained within Janie for a healthy and happy relationship, perfectly emulating the effect that Eatonville has on …show more content…
She obtains a new sense of freedom from Tea Cake and the environment of Okechobee, and she is able to build her self-worth and virtue. An extreme difference in Okechobee is, “The men held big arguments here like they used to on the store porch. Only here, she could listen and laugh and even talk some herself if she wanted to.” (Hurston, 134). As Pheoby reflects on this porch setting she thinks, “. Only here, she could listen and laugh and even talk some herself” showing how much differently her life is in Okechobee; Okechobee is such a happier place for Janie because she is able to fully express herself and immerse herself in conversation and she will not be immediately judged or ostracized from conversation since she is a woman. In the days following the hurricane, “A great deal of their money and perseverance and they found a place to sleep. It was just that. No place to live at all. Just sleep.” (Hurston, 167). Since this place they found was, “No place to live at all. Just sleep”, it displays the incredible pull that Lake Okechobee has on Janie. After the storm, Tea Cake and Janie could have immediately left Okechobee but they chose to stay; even having to sleep in a place that it would be impossible to live in. They do this simply because they Janie loves her third home;
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