Sophitia A. LaVoy
Lauren Crosby
American Literature
8 May 2023
Their Eyes were watching God essay
The novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston follows the narrative of Janie Crawford, a young Black woman living in Florida in the early twentieth century. Janie's struggle to find love and self-discovery through three marriages is explored in the story. Janie feels stuck in her first two marriages, which stop her personality and desires, throughout the novel. This paper will look at why Janie feels bound in her first two marriages, what components of her personality Logan and Joe conceal, and how Janie defines freedom following Joe's death.
Nanny, Janie's grandmother, arranges her first marriage to Logan Killicks. Logan, Nanny
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Joe is not physically cruel to Janie in the same way that Logan is, but he is emotionally and verbally aggressive. Joe sees Janie as an extension of himself, and he wants her to act in a way that represents his social standing. In Joe's company, Janie's personality is stifled since he discourages her from expressing herself and sharing her opinions. “You're getting too moufy, Janie. Too moufy for common folks, let alone your own.” (Hurston 42). Joe's behavior echoes the novel's patriarchal culture, in which women are expected to be submissive and obedient to their husbands. Janie's yearning for self-expression and originality is stifled in her second marriage, leaving her feeling confined once more.
Janie feels a sense of liberation and self-discovery following Joe's death. Tea Cake, a younger man who is passionate and affectionate towards her, enters her life. Janie's relationship with Tea Cake differs from her previous two marriages in that Tea Cake allows her to be herself and encourages her to communicate her views and feelings. Tea Cake considers Janie to be an equal partner in their relationship, as evidenced by his words, “Ah never did want yuh to do dat, honey. It wuzn’t for nothin’. Ah just wanted yuh to know whut it wuz lak.” (Hurston