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Their Eyes Were Watching God: Novel Summary: Chapter 9

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Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20

Chapter 9

Hurston's ninth chapter depicts Joe's lavish funeral. In Janie's mind, however, Joe died long before so behind her mourning veil were feelings of "resurrection and life" (84). In a symbolic act of self-cleansing, Janie burns every one of the head rags Joe made her wear. After the funeral, suitors begin appearing, looking to marry Janie for her deceased husband's property. Janie, however, "liked being lonesome for a change" (86). Without a husband for the first time in seventeen years, Janie revels in the freedom of being alone.