A Successful Role Model In Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God

As Sigmund Freud once said, “the only person with whom you have to compare yourself is you in the past. ” In this essay, I will qualify the claim that Janie, the protagonist from Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, is a powerful role model for young readers because she pursues her own happiness despite obstacles. Janie does pursue her own happiness through her relationship with Joe Starks and Tea cake, even though they both come to a crashing end. The obstacles she has to overcome however, are created by herself. Janie creates her own adversity, and is then forced to overcome it to achieve what she desires. On the other hand, she doesn 't always do so. For instance, marrying Logan Killicks, on Nanny’s wish, without the ability of patience to see it through. As well as, adhering to what people want and expect. With

Janie’s initial reaction is anything but hesitant, she admits that he is not good looking, and says flat out no. Janie 's happiness regarding Johnny Taylor and the pear tree deteriorates with the mention of marrying Logan. She is caught in a liminal state between pure freedom and pure security. Logan offers her security, he is relatively wealthy and has a farm. However, Johnny Taylor and the world outside Logan offers freedom, happiness, and adventure. The message to the reader is that Janie is doing what others want to make them happy instead of doing what is best for her. Janie goes through with the marriage and soon becomes confused and unhappy. She expresses her confusion to nanny as she states, “‘cause you told me ah mus gointer love him, and, and ah don 't. Maybe if somebody was to tell me how, ah could do it’” (23). Janie begins to see her mistake, and feels bad for herself, for letting Nanny down, and for leading Logan on. She believed that if others told her it would work and that she would love him, then it would happen. As Logan begins to make her work and expects more of her, her window for freedom begins to