The Eyes Were Watching God Janie's Relationship

In The Eyes Were Watching God, the author Zora Neale Hurston expresses the main character Janie Crawford as beautiful, young, fair skin, and very attractive. These aspects allow Janie to experience many different kinds of relationships and marriages. Janie’s first relationship and marriage was with Logan Killicks. Logan believed the stereotypical roles in a house were correct and that the woman should cook and clean. The relationship was a financial security blanket forced upon her by her grandmother. Joe Starks was the next man in Janie's life, and while it started better, by the end, he was abusive, treated her poorly, and was highly power-hungry. Lastly was Tea Cake; Tea Cake and Janie had a great relationship until Tea Cake contracted

Soon after she met Logan, it became apparent that Logan Killicks was not the best fit for Janie as he preferred an old-fashioned marriage and the responsibilities that came along with it. “‘You ain’t got no particular place. It’s whereve Ah need yuh. Git uh move on yuh, and dat quick.”’ (27) Logan expects Janie to do all the little “woman” things around the house, and he would bring in the money. Throughout their relationship, he shows signs of power and believes he has all the control. “‘You don’t take a bit of interest in dis place. ‘Tain’t no use in foolin’ round in dat kitchen all day long.”’ (27) Logan shows he does not want her messing or “fooling” around all day and thinks she must be working 24/7. While many people may think that Logan does not expect much of Janie, and while parts of that may be genuine, this relationship does not respect Janie, and her Nanny forces her into it in the first place. However, Janie realized that she would need to be more powerful and independent in her future

Tea Cake is much younger than Janie, and the community believes he will use her for her money. Janie thinks otherwise and looks at Tea Cake for who he is, “Tea Cake wasn’t strange. Seemed as if she had known him all her life. Look how she had been able to talk with him right off! He tipped his hat at the door and was off with the briefest good night.” (99) Tea Cake genuinely cares for Janie. While he may seem risky, he always wants the best for her. Compared to her previous marriages, Janie has much more power, and the control is evenly distributed. Tea Cake, an excellent gambler, runs off with Janie’s money to gamble one day. Janie does not hear from him for a while, and the community's beliefs are becoming true. Roughly a day later, he returns and is ecstatic to share everything that has happened and all the gambling fun he has had. Janie, worried sick, is disappointed in Tea Cake but quickly gets over it because he is back and all hers. Compared to her previous marriages, this was not forced. Janie and Tea Cake had a genuine shared love. Tea Cake and Janie live happily until a hurricane hits them, and Janie is swept away. Tea Cake comes to the save and saves Janie’s life while getting bit by a dog. The dog gives Tea Cake rabies, and the medicine needed to save him will not come in time. The disease sparks a rage in Tea Cake, never seen before, and he gets sick. Janie and Tea Cake get into a fight and it ends up in a shootout.