In the first chapter of this book alone, the reader can sense a very autobiographical feel from the novel as it seems that Zora Hurston is telling her own life story through the character Janie. Their is a striking resmblence between Hurston and Janie with where they live, their their strength and indepedence, their dealings with men and their age. As Hurton sets the scene in the begining of the novel, the reader could almost feel like they are in Eatonville, Florida where Hurston grew up, a African American town. With everyone sitting around on porches gossiping after a hard days work it seems like it could be the town of Hurston childhood. Also, both women are strong and independent. In the begining of the novel Janie walks into town all by herself without a care of what the others thought and with confidence not seen by many women at that time period. Similiarly, Hurston cast aside other people's thoughts of her and did what she wanted which lead to her success and fame. Ignoring all the prejudices around her, she became a famous writer and very popular in literary circles. Both women also leave men that they seemingly have a close relationship with. Janie is walking back to town because she had left her man, Tea Cake. Hurston was also known to leave two lovers in her life. Finally, both of them have a tendency to lie about their age. Hurston's date of birth is not actually known because she was dishonest about her age throughout her life. Janie's friend Phoeby tells that Janie also lies about her age in this quote "The worst thing Ah ever knowed her to do was taking a few years offa her age and dat ain't never harmed noboday" (3). This resemblance may evolve more as the novel goes on.
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