A Little Different, but Yes

When considering whether Their Eyes Were Watching God (now one of my new favorite books, by the way) is a bildungsroman, I realize it's a little different from the other books we have read so far.  The others focus more on isolated time periods in the main character's life, especially the transition from childhood to adulthood. Their Eyes, however, chronicles all of Janie's life. It is not just a "coming of age" novel but a whole life story about maturity and growth, in the midst of hardship and varying circumstances. I like this about the book: it increases the classical nature of the book because so many people can relate to Janie (and even the other characters) because of the different periods of life she goes through. I still think this is a bildungsroman, but it is also so much more. This aspect emphasizes the fact that all of life is about growth; it's always a journey through life's obstacles and joys. We are never stagnant. 

Some defining moments for Janie include each of her different marriages as well as the times she or he leaves (leaving Logan's farm, Jody's death and Tea Cake's death). Outside of these obvious ones, I think her moment under the pear tree is an awakening of dreams inside her and the moment we looked at in class, when she realizes her inner self and her broken dreams, is also a major turning point for Janie.