I think that in many ways Wright's critique of Hurston is legitimate. Their Eyes Were Watching God is not a particularly idealistic novel. The protagonist is on the whole, not particularly complex either. As some have pointed out, this novel could be seen as a story of a woman finding her identity, but I really don't feel that's the case. This analysis is digging at something that isn't there. Her journey is, at best, a pursuit of her ideals about love and the ideal marriage/relationship. I prefer to read the novel as an adventure: a story about realistic characters with realistic interactions living eventful lives. Certainly Janie does find some accomplishment after her journey, but it isn't in an existential sense. I do think that this novel has merit in its portrayal of southern life, but I agree with Wright that this book should not be that significant or lasting.
I don't believe that Hurston has the obligation to write a novel addressing race relations, but I do believe that a truly great novel has to have some philosophical or political/social relevance. I used the parallel of music in class; there are plenty of good, catchy, successful songs that have no meaning to speak of, but a truly great song will be both well-constructed and possess some depth.
As for Wright's specific issue with Hurston's "minstrel-esque"portrayal of black southerners, I was at first less inclined to agree. It seems wrong, especially from a modern perspective, to expect a certain portrayal of a group and especially a race from an author. However in context, this novel was written during a time where such racist stereotypes were still rampant, and Wright was one of many trying to pave the way for change. Hurston was naive in her detachment (whether intentional or not) from negative race relations and neglected to factor in the damaging effect her work could have in the hands of a racist demographic.
I agree completely that Their Eyes Were Watching God is not an existential novel, should not be read as one, and is more of a representation of southern life, a anthropological effort rather than an idealistic one. However, I will add that there is some social/racial relevance in the novel, in Janie's conversations with Mrs. Turner. Although it is not technically a conflict between a white person and a black person, the ideas are still explored, and there is a still a conflict in how the two think about race. I won't try to say that this is a major part of the book, but I don't think it should be discounted.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely agree that this a book that is best read for the story and doesn't try to purvey some idealistic theme but I don't think that this is particularly a reason to discredit the novel. For example a large number of American "Classics", such as the "The Great Gatsby" do not seem to have an overarching ideal just a well written story. And it would seem foolish to me, to not include their Eyes were Watching God in collections of Literary Masterpiece.
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