NovelGuide: Their Eyes Were Watching God: Novel Summary: Chapter 20

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Chapter 20

In Hurston's brief final chapter, Janie's friends in the Everglades realize they were wrong to accuse Janie of Tea Cake's murder. She stays on the muck for a few weeks - just to make them feel better - then heads back to Eatonville. The novel then returns to the setting of the opening chapter: Janie sitting in her house retelling her story to Pheoby Watson. As Janie completes her story, Pheoby announces "Ah done growed ten feet higher from jus' listenin' tuh you, Janie. Ah ain't satisfied wid mahself no mo'" (183). Finally, Pheoby hugs Janie and heads home. Janie, left alone, thinks about her past and the novel concludes with Janie realizing, "Here was peace. She pulled in her horizon like a great fish-net. Pulled it from around the waist of the world and draped it over her shoulder. So much of life in its meshes! She called in her soul to come and see" (184).