Johnathan Carey
November 22, 2002

Biblical Allusions in Their Eyes Were Watching God

    

     Authors use different styles of writing to describe. Some use biblical or mythological allusions. Authors use these because most people are familiar with or have read about them. The author of this book uses biblical allusions so readers from other cultures can clearly understand and learn about the black culture.
     Zora Neale Hurston uses several allusions in this book. One of them is, "‘old as Methusalem’" (Hurston 74). She used this because Jodi was insulting Janie and was calling her old (Hurston 74). In Genesis 5:27, it says that Methuselah died at the age of 969. He was the oldest man in the Bible (The Holy Bible).
     Zora also used, "‘Zachariah, Ah says come down out dat sycamore tree’" (Hurston 128). At this point of the story, Jodi, Ed, and some other guys were playing cards. Ed says this statement; he is bragging because he is laying down a good card. Ed is acting like the card is Zacchaeus (Zachariah) and his hand or he is the sycamore tree (Hurston 128). In Luke 19:1-10 it states that Zacchaeus was a tax collector. Jesus had came to town that day. Zacchaeus couldn’t see because he was so short, so he climbed up a sycamore tree. Jesus saw him and told him to get down that he was going to his house (The Holy Bible).
     Zora used another biblical allusion and it states, "‘Ah’m de Apostle Paul tuh de Gentiles’" (Hurston 100). At this point, Teacake and Janie are having a huge conflict. Teacake claims that he tells women things and then he shows them (Hurston 100). In Acts 13-14, Acts 15-16, Acts 19-20, and Acts 28-31, Paul is preaching to the Gentiles. Paul told them that he was going to help them build a church and he did. Paul also told them about Jesus and led them to Salvation (The Holy Bible).
     Zora said in her book that, "Janie had robbed him of his irresistible maleness… The thing Saul’s daughter had done to David" (Hurston 75). At this time in the story Janie and Joe is having a conflict. Joe insulted Janie so she insulted him back. Janie said, "‘When you pull down yo’ britches, you look lak de change uh life’" (Hurston 75). When she said this, she embarrassed Jodi and made him realize that he is not perfect (Hurston 75). In II Samuel 6:17-23, Saul’s daughter– Michal– had done something similar to her husband David (The Holy Bible). Michal was the youngest of Saul’s two daughters (Hanke 614). In II Samuel 6:17-23, David danced for the Lord naked in front of the hand maids of the servants. Michal told him, "‘How glorious was the King of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!’" (The Holy Bible 359).
     Hurston also used a very well-known Bible story; Peter walking on water. Teacake said, "‘… he’d be walkin’ on water lak Peter befo’ he knowed it’" (Hurston 97). Teacake was telling Janie that he would get anything for her. Janie was saying that she would like a ship. Teacake said that he would get her a ship so fast that the people would be walking on water (Hurston 97). Peter is one of sons of Jones. He was also the natural spokesman of the Twelve Disciples (Hanke 621). In Matthew 14:25-32, Jesus is walking on water and Peter wants to join him. Jesus told Peter to come and so Peter did and he walked on water (The Holy Bible).
     Zora Neale Hurston used these Biblical allusions to help readers from other cultures understand the black culture. Hurston uses Biblical allusions that most people know or have read about. She uses them in a way that people can understand.