Their Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Character Analysis

Janie's first marriage was with Logan Killicks. This marriage was arranged by Janie's Nana, and Janie had no say in the marriage. Unfortunately for Janie, when Nana arranged her marriage with Logan Killicks she didn't think about Janie's feelings in any way as her first concern was for Janie's safety and financial security. Unfortunately, Janie and Logan have different views on gender roles. Logan expects his wife obey his demands and to help him out with the farm, while Janie prefers to do the opposite and to leave the physical labor to Logan. In this marriage, Janie learned the lesson that love is the foundation of a strong marriage, as, without love for each other, there can be little motivation to remain loyal in a relationship. Janie also learns that in a working marriage, couples must share similar worldviews about life.

At the same time, however, Janie begins to confuse this desire with romance. Despite the fact that nature’s “love embrace” leaves her feeling “limp and languid,” she pursues the first thing she sees that appears to satisfy her desire: a young man named Johnny Taylor (Hurston 11). Leaning over the gate’s threshold to kiss Johnny, Janie takes the first step toward her newfound horizon. Nanny sees this kiss and declares Janie’s womanhood. She wants Janie to marry Logan Killicks, a financially secure and well-respected farmer who can protect her from corruption. The marriage of convenience that Nanny suggests is “desecrating … [Janie’s] pear tree” because it contradicts her ideal vision of love (Hurston 14). Because she did not have the strength to fight people in her youth, Janie’s grandmother believes that Janie needs to rely on a husband in order to stay safe and reach liberation. Ironically, Janie’s adherence to Nanny’s last request suppresses her even more because it causes her to leave behind her own horizon.

Her first marriage with Logan Killicks, whom she married shortly after her awakening under the tree, brought a major revelation. Janie found out that “marriage did not make love” (25). The moment she encountered while under the pear tree brought her the expectation of love, but after being married for a short time, she found that love never appeared in this relationship. At first, the marriage seemed like a happy one, but as time went on, and the novelty of being married went away, Janie felt a deepening void. Logan expected her to do hard labor as his previous wife did, but she was reluctant to do so.

Janie Mae Crawford serves as the protagonist of one of Zora Neale Hurston’s most notable works Their Eyes Were Watching God. From her grandmother Nanny to her last husband Tea Cake, Janie has always been a victim to those attempting to decide her fate for her. Her grandmother determining who she loves, Logan and Jody treating her as a possession and Tea Cake jealousy and stubbornness all lead to the climatic point in Janie’s life where she blossoms into the strong woman she is becomes in the end. It is by the end of the novel that Janie finally gets to decide how she chooses to live her life. Thus, Janie’s character development is a reflection of the various experiences and relationships that she has had throughout her life. From these

In Janie’s revelation about her sexuality, she longs “to be a pear tree—any tree in bloom!” This metaphor for Janie’s youth and vitality suggest she is in the spring of her life, with her “glossy leaves” and “bursting buds” and struggling to make sense of the “marriage” that is buzzing through the air with bees. Thus in this scene, Janie crosses the threshold from childhood to adulthood, a passage made complete by her hasty marriage to Logan Killicks, a man far beyond the tumultuous “spring” of youth that Janie is in the midst of in this passage.

Janie comes to an understanding of the true meaning of love “She knew now that marriage did not make love. Janie's first dream was dead, so she became a woman” (Hurston, 25). Janie assumed that love and marriage was easy, but now realizes that it's hard to have a healthy relationship. Hurston uses metaphors to reveal the difficulties of marriage and love with both Jody and Logan. Hurston also uses metaphors to show Janie's feeling of being restrained because she's unable to express her true emotions.

These strong female characters are able to portray their independence. Hurston’s fictional Character, Janie, sets a standard for women and proves that she does not need to rely on anybody. Janie is in an abusive and controlling relationship with her second husband, Jody. He would never let Janie do what she wanted, made her wear a cloth on her head so other men would not admire her, and always spoke for her. When Jody gives a speech at his welcome party for his new store,

Janie realizes on her own that she doesn’t care about security at the end of the chapter right before she meets Joe she acknowledges that “being married” didn’t mean “being in love” describing it as, “She knew now that marriage did not make love. Janie’s first dream was dead, so she became a woman” (Hurston 25), her dreams being dead, is her innocent naïve way of thinking about marriage being torn down for what it was which was you marry someone you love, instead of marrying someone and then falling in love with that person. Her naïve way of thinking was replaced with reality making her less naïve, or a “woman”.

Chapter one of “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston starts off with a discussion of men's’ lives and their dreams. However, the novel revolves around a female character. By starting off the novel like this Hurston is able to compare Janie’s dreams and life to those of men (Hurston 1). The time period in which this novel takes place makes the discussion of Janie’s dreams strange since women were not expected to live their lives like men, like equals. Chapter two initiates the start of Janie’s spiritual and sexual awakening.

From this point on, Janie yearns for true love. Her journey involves many obstacles, though, including her grandmother forcing her to marrying a rich man named Logan and an abusive second husband named Jody, but these obstacles never stopped Janie from achieving her dream. These experiences only helped Janie grow as a person and also aided in fully shaping her dream. After she liberates herself from those that held her back, she manages to achieve her dream by marry a man who respected her, Tea Cake. Janie’s journey inspired me to not be afraid to move on and to always persevere through obstacles to accomplish my dreams because struggles only strengthen you.

     The plan for Janie’s future begins with her lack of having real parents. Hurston builds up a foundation for Janie that is bound to fall like a Roman Empire. Janie’s grandmother, whom she refers to as “Nanny” takes the position as Janie’s guardian. The problem begins here for Janie because her Nanny not only spoils her, but also makes life choices for her. Nanny is old, and she only wants the best for her grandchild, for she knows that the world is a cruel place. Nanny makes the mistake of not allowing Janie to learn anything on her own. When Janie was sixteen years old, Nanny wanted to see her get married. Although Janie argued at first, Nanny insisted that Janie get married. “’Yeah, Janie, youse got yo’ womanhood on yuh… Ah wants to see you married right away.’” (Page 12). Janie was not given a choice in this decision. Her Nanny even had a suitor picked out for her. Janie told herself that she would try to make the best of the situation and attempt to find love in her marriage to Logan Killicks. But, as time went by, Janie realized that she still did not have any feelings of what she had considered to be love in her husband.

Zora Neale Hurston, an African American novelist, folklorist, and anthropologist, was born in Alabama in 1891. Hurston grew up in Eatonville, Florida, the setting of her famous novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. This novel, published in 1937, despite receiving harsh criticism for oversimplifying and distorting African American characters, became a success. The novel follows the main character, Janie Crawford, in her search of fulfilling love. Janie learns to gain independence by seizing opportunities that are hidden from women.

All of Janie’s husbands abuse her in a way, showing control and possession over her. By writing his book, Hurston is trying to say that violence is not a proper way to control jealous and insecurity. All Janie’s husbands felt insure in their relationships with her, and felt being violent towards her wad the answer. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a victim of physical abuse or violence. Janie is a strong and independent women who doesn’t put up with the abuse of her husband’s controlling her. Even though she isn’t angry at Tea Cake for beating her, she doesn’t let him boss her around and tell her how to live her life. I aspire to as strong as Janie, and to never let anyone take possession of me and my life. I’ve also learned a lesson from Janie’s husbands; never let jealous and need for control lead you to do violent and dangerous things to people you

Hurston’s main way of inspiring a sense of feminism in her novel, is through the relationships of Janie including her Nanny, Logan Killicks, Joe Starks, and Tea Cake. She addresses Janie’s role differently in each of these relationships using motifs and stereotypes. Janie begins her journey of self-discovery following the dreams of her Nanny to becoming a strong, independent woman who makes her own decisions. All of the roles that Janie obtains stem from the distinct

In 1791 Thomas Paine wrote the book Rights of Man in which Paine illustrates his thoughts on the unity of the American people. Walter Russell, however, says America "has always been a division of man. There has always been the conqueror and conquered - the master and slave - the ruler and the ruled - the oppressor and the oppressed. There has never been content nor unity. There has been only discontent and disunity". While in the United States there are people similar to Thomas, who believe and strive for freedom and diversity, there are also those who Walter Russell illustrates that promote racism, violence, and disunity. I mostly disagree with Thomas Paine because, while there are times of peace; justice; and concord, there are far greater instances of oppression, privilege, and riots.