On the road of self-discovery In the novel "Their Eyes were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston, the main character Janie Mae Crawford struggles perpetually with society for self identification. She challenges the stereotypical African American woman by determining her own independence. Janie significantly changes both internally and externally throughout the novel with the influence of her grandmother and her quest for self identity. Janie's grandmother, Nanny, had a major influence person in Janie's life. Nanny wanted social and financial security for her granddaughter. Nanny believed that they were in the lower class because she says, “de white man is de ruler of everything” (14). Nanny pushed Janie to “sit on high” by marrying