A person who is in an autonomous state is someone who acts based on their own values and interests. An autonomous individual does not necessarily follow the rules placed upon them by others, or allow another figure to hide their personal worth or merit in a corner. The novel by Zora Neale Hurston titled Their Eyes Were Watching God is one that produces a character who slowly develops herself into a partially autonomous person. Janie goes through three romantic relationships, each of which she begins to demonstrate more and more acts of autonomy. Janie’s first relationship was with a man by the name of Logan Killicks. She is actually forced into this relationship by her grandmother. Her grandmother, Nanny, forces Janie to marry him, because she thinks Janie needs a man to protect her. She says to Janie, “‘Tain’t Logan Killicks Ah wants you to have, baby, it’s protection” (15). Janie finds she never loves him as a husband, and he …show more content…
Joe was charismatic towards Janie, and they end up moving in together. Jody became mayor, and Janie was asked to give a speech at the committee meeting. Jody started speaking before she could even begin. He said, “Thank yuh fuh yo’ compliments, but mah wife don’t know nothin’ ‘bout no speech-makin’. Ah never married her for nothin’ lak dat. She’s uh woman and her place is in de home” (43). In other words, Janie is still under control of her significant other. Similar situations such as this continue to occur throughout Janie’s relationship with the Mayor. He orders her to wear certain clothes, doesn’t let her sit outside the store she runs, etcetera. The Mayor becomes increasingly toxic towards Janie, and he eventually dies of old age. After his death, Janie finds happiness in living without a male figure. She feels she is more free and almost entirely independent, apart from the small she is forced to run due to the past actions of