Their Eyes Were Watching God Chapter 18

I love love love this chapter. From the symbolism of the storm to the way Janie finally finds what she has been looking for her entire life. This is undoubtedly the climax of the novel.

The only thing I can think of comparing how the characters become closer is in the movie "This is Where I Leave You", the father dies and the mother makes all the kids come home and stay together for a week and spend time getting to know one another again. The storm makes Janie, Tea Cake, and Motor Boat all work together to get to know one another better and work together to stay alive. 
This is the scene in the movie that I'm talking about.

The storm is a metaphor for God. The storm doesn't discriminate in who it harms or saves, God doesn't either. The storm is the end all be all of the area, God can be the end all be all of an area. Janie, Tea Cake, and Motor Boat were all watching the storm, when people go to church their eyes are said to be "watching God".