The complexity of human life
One of the main themes of Hurston’s novel is the complexity of human life – how can one judge what’s right and wrong, can one learn from the mistakes made in the past, can a balance be found between the desires of the flesh and the religious faith? Jonah’s Gourd Vine doesn’t give a certain answer to these questions, but rather lets the reader reflect on the topics. The book suggests that good intentions aren’t enough in order to make morally correct decisions, but doesn’t really show any plausible alternative. The human nature is presented as too disordered in order to be described in simple terms such as “good” and “bad”. Whether John’s sufferings and sudden death are an inevitable consequence of his actions, is left for the reader to decide.
Gender stereotypes
One of the features which make Jonah’s Gourd Vine a very modern novel, is the implicit criticism on gender stereotypes. Although John is a man with a sturdy physique, he isn’t displayed as the strong one in the family. Whenever there’s trouble, he runs away or gives up. To the contrary, women are presented as powerful and vital human beings – Lucy asking John to leave her when she finds out about his affairs, the young daughter Isis staying by her mother's death in the days before her death, Hattie having the confidence to sue John, and Sally taking care for him financially - no matter whether good or bad, each woman is able to take a stand autonomously. Despite the fact that women still have to watch the children and aren’t given a chance for a career, they have a much more independent role than in the past.
Violence
Violence occurs repeatedly throughout the novel – Ned Crittenden abuses his wife, John fights with other men over women, John fights with Lucy’s brother over money, John hits Lucy, John abuses his wife Hattie, etc. However, the book clearly states that nothing good can come out of violence – every time John tries to solve his problems by means of aggression, the situation only becomes worse – he has to leave Alf Pearson’s, he loses Lucy’s affection, Hattie files a divorce case against him. Just like his hyper-sexuality and lies, his violent nature doesn’t correspond with his spiritual power and leads him nowhere.
Religion and myth
Jonah’s Gourd Vine presents the reader with numerous allusions to the Bible. However, as complexity is one of the prominent features of Hurston’s novel, the religious aspects do not remain unquestioned. How can someone as sinful as John have the gift to preach and mesmerize a whole town of people? Do Hattie’s hoodoo spells have something to do with Lucy’s unexpected death? The novel isn’t clear about the answers of these questions but rather suggests that there isn’t a single approach to reality and religion is only one of the ways to explain the world.
Wandering
John’s character can be connected with two types of wanderings – from town to town and from woman to woman. Whereas the first always gives him the opportunity of a new beginning, the latter can be regarded as the same mistake over and over again. What John fails to realize, is that a fresh start should also come along with a change in character. By letting his weakness overrule him, he always finds himself on the way, fleeing from the past rather than learning from it, wandering without a clear destination.
