Their Eyes Were Watching God Comparison

When taking the way society views one another nowadays into perspective, it is very clear to see how unjust a system has been set up. The actions of one person can be praised, while someone else can be shamed and attacked for that very same thing. This idea of unfair treatment can be seen in “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston. The various love interests of the protagonist Janie all have different levels of admiration. Some may say that each of these characters earned this by their individual actions, but I say that Hurston’s portrayal of these characters is what led them to their differences in respect. Two out of the three love interests we are introduced to are Logan and Tea Cake, who, despite some of their differences,

As for Tea Cake, although he may not act out as much as Logan throughout the story, we do encounter a scenario of selfishness when he decides to take Janie’s money without asking, as well as running off without saying anything. Despite their similar acts of selfishness, Janie’s response causes Logan to be seen as a bad person like here, “Youse mad ‘cause Ah don’t fall down and wash-up dese sixty acres uh ground yuh got. You ain’t done me no favor by marryin’ me.” (31) and Tea Cake to be let off much easier with a warning like here, “Looka heah, Tea Cake, if you ever go off from me and have a good time lak dat and then come back heah tellin’ me how nice Ah is, Ah specks tuh kill yuh dead. You heah me?” (124) The way Janie reacts to both of their treatment in very different ways shows how Hurston’s choice of Janie’s responses alters the way Logan and Tea Cake are portrayed as a character throughout their whole presence in the story. Janie’s portrayal by Hurston can be a big indicator as to how other characters will be portrayed, as seen previously with Logan and Tea

In one scene we see Joe enforcing an idea of Janie wearing a headrag in the store to conceal her hair from other people which was more so a method of comforting his jealousy, and in another scene we see Tea Cake beating Janie also as a sign of jealousy towards other men. The difference occurs once Joe dies, causing Janie to burn her headrags as a symbol of freedom from him: “Before she slept that night, she burnt up every one of her head rags and went about the house the next morning with her hair in one thick braid swinging below her waist.” (89) Meanwhile, the much worse action of abuse by Tea Cake is passed off by Janie and even praised by other men: “Tea Cake, you show is a lucky man. Ah bet she never raised her hand to hit you back, Reactions they both get seem to be very unfair, especially since the harsher action by Tea Cake was praised while Joe was discredited after his death. This proves how Hurston’s decision on how Janie, as well as bystanders actions, can affect how other characters like Joe and Tea Cake are