Is Their Eyes Were Watching God an example of the hero's journey?

I would say that Their Eyes Were Watching God is exemplary of the hero's journey. I also think that this archetype gives us a wonderful way of thinking about the novel. Typically, when we talk about the hero's journey, we have a male hero in mind. In classical literature, it is Odysseus or Aeneas; in romances from the Middle Ages, we think of King Horn or Sir Gawain. Placing Janie in this role helps to expand our concepts of who can be a hero and what determines heroic acts. Janie's transformation, for example, is less the result of external actions than the result of what is going on within her.
Joseph Campbell describes seventeen stages of the hero's journey, which can be divided into three main parts. The first part is departure. Perhaps not every element in Campbell's description applies to Janie, but arguably, not every element would apply to some traditional heroes. Those that do apply here include the call to adventure, supernatural aid, and the crossing of the threshold. The latter requires the hero to leave her family or community in an effort to discover her purpose. Janie's call to adventure comes as a result of her sexual discovery with Johnny Taylor and her realization that her sexuality is as natural as the blooming pear trees. Thus, there is no shame, but rather a sense that she is destined to discover this aspect of her being. The call to adventure comes after she meets Joe Starks, whom she knows will offer her more in life than her first husband, Logan Killicks. Given the restrictions on women's lives, it is not surprising that much of Janie's self-discovery occurs through men.
The next main part is initiation. Here, the hero experiences various trials. There is also usually a confrontation with death. Janie's first trial is the demise of her marriage to Joe. He becomes abusive. He then dies and leaves her a widow. Her next trials occur during her relationship with Tea Cake. Though she experiences more equality in this union than she did with Logan and Joe, there are external pressures on the couple. For example, Janie feels jealous when another young woman who lives and farms with them in the muck of the Florida Everglades takes an interest in Tea Cake. Tea Cake, too, feels threatened by Mrs. Turner's encouragement that Janie leave Tea Cake, whom she considers "too dark," in favor of her lighter-skinned son.
Janie's confrontations with death occur both during the hurricane, which she and Tea Cake survive, and when she finds out that Tea Cake has contracted rabies, due to having been bitten by a rabid dog. He eventually goes mad and dies, leading Janie to return home.
Thus, we reach the final part of the hero's journey: the return. During this stage, there is a rebirth or ascension within the protagonist. Hurston makes this ascension rather literal when Janie finishes telling her story to Phoeby, then mounts the stairs to her bedroom. For the first time in years, Janie is alone and content with that, for each of her lovers has left her rich in memories and experiences. The end of her journey results in her being settled into her womanhood and content with who she is.