Chapters 16, 17 and 18

How does Mrs. Turner's relationship with her husband affect her character? Discuss their roles in marriage, and compare them to other couples in the chapters.

Mrs.Turner is a strongly opinionated, self reliant women. She's proud and "strong headed". Mr.Turner knows this and let's her do what she pleases without interfering. This makes Mrs.Turner feel more in control. Because of this she has control of the relationship, this is true with many of the other couples in the book, the women controls the relationship. These relationships act as a foil to Janie and Tea Cake's relationship because in their relationship Tea Cake has control. In Janie and Tea Cake's relationship each of them are happy and they make each other happy, which can't be said for the Turners. Janie and Tea Cake have a healthy relationship, they are loyal to each other and they complement each other. The Turners on the other hand are separate of each other and Mrs. Turner only looks to her husband to function as a healthy couple when she is in need or loses control, like when she is pushed to the floor in the bar fight and scolds Mr.Turner for not coming to her aid.





What is the significance of the title? What does Hurston suggest about the relationship between the characters and God

The Title "Their Eyes Were Watching God" is significant because it represents a theme in the book. Janie, Tea Cake and all the rest of the characters believe that everything that happens to them is God's will. Hurston suggests throughout the story that God controls what happens to the characters and controls how they live their lives. This is illustrated in Chapter 18 during the hurricane, the characters eyes were "watching god" to see what he would do, would he spare them from the storm would he subject them to it.