The Development of Self in Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God

Abstract

The novel follows the process of her achievement of the identity of a successful quester. I aim to investigate the causes of her success in this development. I also intend to analyze the role of the black community and the different characters presenting its different values. I will also focus on how Hurston breaks with the stereotypical images of black women and creates a new type of the black woman: an independent, fully grown figure. The novel thus renders an authentic representation of black people.