A Study Of The Narrative Tension In Their Eyes Were Watching God

Zora Neale Hurston is considered as one of the pre-eminent writers of twentiethcentury African-American literature and a major figure of the Harlem Renaissance.Though she was once overshadowed by men in the waves of literature, after decades ofsilence, her talents and excellent works are recognized again. As her masterpiece, TheirEyes Were Watching God receives much attention. Many critics have analyzed the novelin various aspects, but the narrative tension of this novel is mentioned by few people, sothe present author of this thesis will explore the narrative tension of the novel, expectingto appreciate Hurston’s novel from this perspective. The narrative tension of language,structure and perspective of Their Eyes Were Watching God will be interpreted with theattempt to reveal the deeper meaning that Hurston wants to expose.The present thesis firstly analyzes the tension of language. In this novel, Hurstonutilizes two different language forms and two ironies. On one hand, the tension oflanguage attracts readers’ attention to the text; on the other hand, it enables readers torecognize Hurston’s strong longing for preserving her own culture and the cruel factshiding in Hurston’s ironic description of scenes in her novel. Then, this thesis isconcerned with the tension of structure. The linear structure and the circular structureform the tension which together keeps the harmony of the whole story and conveys Hurston’s technique innovation in the creation of novel. The fictional elements and therealistic sources form the tension in structure together to draw readers’ interest inreading the novel and to reveal Hurston’s idea of encouraging her communities torecognize the reality and pursue their own voice. Last, the thesis concentrates on thetension of perspective. Through the tension of perspective, Hurston successfullyexhibits round characters before readers and offers the reader chances to observe andperceive things both rationally and emotionally. In the case, readers can appreciate theclassic novel in a better way. Thus, this study may make readers have a close look atHurston’s artistic creation and have a better thinking of Hurston’s writing techniques.