Their Eyes Were Watching God

(PG 35) Two men who were sitting on their shoulder blades under a huge live oak tree almost sat upright…

As we know, trees are a motif in this book. I think the reason Hurston puts a description of a tree in this part of the book where they are discussing the town is to let us know that even though there is little life in the town there is still this huge live oak tree growing in it, which means there is a lot of potential for the town and room for the town to grow, like the tree has. This gives us an idea, or foreshadows, that Joe will have success in this town and will bring new life to it and make it grow.