Abstract: Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) is an iconic figure in the 20th century American literature. She is regarded as mother of black female writing. Their Eyes Were Watching God is her most popular novel that addresses for the first time in black literature the inner self-consciousness of a black female. She brings the issue of black female’s confidence and respect to public attention, and changes the gender pattern of black literature through the character of a black female who acquires the ability to make self-search, self-express and self-affirmation. This paper is a text-based study on the complexity of black Americans from the perspective of post-colonialism. With an analysis of the marriage and growth of Janie Crawford, it explores black females’ difficult path towards their self-consciousness and self-construction. 

Key words: black female; post-colonialism; self-consciousness; self-identity

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction  .1

 1.1 Author and Their Eyes Were Watching God.1

 1.2 Post-colonialism as Perspective of the Study 2

 1.3 Theme of the Paper 3

2. Review of Related Studies .4

 2.1 Studies on the Theme of the Novel 4

 2.2 Studies on the Historical Background 5

 2.3 Studies on the Black Folk Culture 6

 2.4 Studies on the Writing Techniques6

  3. Growth of Janie’s Self-consciousness through Her Three Marriages.7

 3.1 Marriage with Killicks: Search for Self-identity .7

 3.2 Marriage with Starks: Refusal to be Someone’s Property .9

   3.3 Marriage with “Tea Cake”: Reward of Kindness and Respect 12

4. Complexity of the Black’s Identity Building 14

 4.1 Pressure of Social and Cultural Realities 14

 4.2 The Black’s Desire to Identify with the White 15

 4.3 The Black’s Strong Sense of Repulsion to the White 16

 4.4 The Black Female’s Extra Consideration of Gender Identity .17

5. Conclusion.18

References.19