Their Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurston: Character Analysis

After being caught kissing Johnny Taylor, Janie is taught a lesson by Nanny which plays a crucial role in her understanding of love and relationships throughout the novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, By Zora Neale Hurston. Early in the book, Nanny introduces to Janie the idea that women are the “mules uh de world,” and that there are stereotypes for women throughout their lives (Hurston 14). As this idea is integrated into different aspects of Janie's life, it heavily affects her view on love, relationships, and society throughout the book. Janie’s marriages to Logan and Joe prove Nanny’s lesson while her time with Tea Cake pushes against Nanny’s view but also brings judgment and criticism from those around her. Logan and Joe’s possessiveness

After being taught a woman’s place in society, Nanny forces Janie to marry a man named Logan. In their relationship Janie longed for “change” and “chance” along with the “far horizon”(29). Instead, she got a loveless and controlling relationship which she was trapped in. Furthermore, Janie’s view of love is first affected when Logan claims that Janie has “no particular place” and is there for “whatever [Logan needs]” (31). After Logan says this Janie realizes what Nanny was saying, that no matter what the men will always end up putting their work onto their women. Janie is unsettled by this dynamic so she proceeds to run away with Joe to the town of Eatonville. In Eatonville, Joe uses Janie to give himself a higher standard and credibility as a new man entering the town. People question how Joe got a woman “like her” and they come to the conclusion that it is because Joe has money (36). Once Joe gains the people’s trust he is elected mayor of Eatonville with Janie at his side. After the ceremony, a man asks Janie to make a speech; however,

They sit on their porches judging Janie as she runs off with Tea Cake to go on picnics, fishing and hunting, all things she wasn’t able to do with Joe. The people of Eatonville believe Tea Cake is not good enough for Janie and think she is “too old for a boy like Tea Cake,” and can do better (3). Furthermore, they disapprove of the fact that it's only been nine months since Joe passed. These criticisms from the townspeople prove the idea that certain qualities are expected of women even when they are unmarried or widowed. Ultimately, this supports Nanny’s opinion of the stereotype for women and that they are the “mules” of society by Janie being criticized due to her “doin’ wrong” by marrying Tea Cake although she was widowed (2). The townspeople expect her to remain single and morning for longer or marry a higher status man, unlike Tea