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Their Eyes Were Watching God Thesis

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“Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. (Hurston.1)” This represents the dreams of men, always in reach, never too far. “Now, women forget all those things they don’t want to remember, and remember everything they don’t want to forget. The dream is the truth. Then they act and do things accordingly. (Hurtson.1)” Women were not given the same opportunities as men were, so when they had a dream, they shoved it to the side. Not because they wanted to, but because they that’s what was expected of them. Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God displayed a forever long journey of Janie Crawford. Set in the 1930’s Janie was expected to marry and have children. However, Janie’s idea of marriage was a bit different than her concerned Nanny’s. Nanny did not want her granddaughter, Janie, to be a house maid as she was. So when a prosperous suitor made his feelings for Janie apparent, Nanny arranged for Janie and Logan Killicks to be Wed. This was the beginning of Janie’s journey of love. …show more content…

“But Nanny, Ah wants to want him sometimes. Ah don’t want him to do all de wantin’.” (Hurston.23) But as you read in the previous paragraph, Nanny did not think much of Janie’s comment about love. “Ah hope you fall on soft ground” (Hurston.25) Logan Killicks had sixty acres of successful farmland which was perfect “soft ground” in case Janie fell. Despite the provided financial support and good treating during the first year of marriage, Logan wanted Janie to help him with the farming work. This in turn made her feel used and unloved. So Janie does what she wants to do and leaves him for Jody Starks, yet another branch connected to Janie’s growing

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In the novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, the protagonist Janie, is influenced by others to change her ideals. Hurston vividly portrays Janie’s outward struggle while emphasising her inward struggle by expressing Janie’s thoughts and emotions. In Kate Chopin’s The Awakening the protagonist is concisely characterized as having “that outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions,” as Janie does. Janie conforms outwardly to her life but questions inwardly to her marriages with Logan Killicks, her first husband, and Joe Starks, her second husband; Janie also questions her grandmother's influence on what love and marriage is.

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Even though Logan Killicks has land, he is not a good husband for Janie. Logan is Janie’s first husband but she did not want to marry him.

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Janie does this for her Nanna, not herself. The idea of a perfect marriage, often represented by a pear tree, grows in Janie’s heart and mind. Her marriage to Logan kills this dream. “My first dream was dead, so I became a woman.” This is the first major sacrifice Janie makes.

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(Hurston 24). Logan does not show any love for Janie. Janie’s unhappiness taught her that love can not be forced upon anyone. Joe prevails as the first man to show, Janie attention and affection. Both, Janie and Joe run off to Eatonville to start a life together.

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The black culture is very diverse in different parts of the world-even in different parts of the state. Janie as moved throughout Florida to places such as West Florida, Eatonville, and the Everglades. Residing in these different places helps develop and define the character of Janie. Throughout Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie experiences many variations of black culture that helps build her character as she travels through Florida.

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After leaving Logan and marrying Joe, she was very happy and seemed to be in love but soon after becomes a “trophy wife” and was just going through the motions of marriage. “No matter what Jody did, she said nothing. She had learned how to talk some and leave some… She got nothing from Jody except what money could buy, and she was giving away what she didn’t value”(Huston, 76). At this point Janie had fully accepted the fact that she wasn’t going to have love in her marriage, and didn’t really care. At this point Janie’s character starts to develope into a more independent woman who cared less about what he husband wanted and more about what she wanted.

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