Their Eyes Were Watching God: A Study of Janie's Relationships

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of Zora Neale Hurston's 'Their Eyes Were Watching God,' focusing on Janie Crawford's quest for self-discovery and fulfillment through her relationships. The essay examines Janie's experiences with Logan Killicks, Jody Starks, and Tea Cake, highlighting the evolution of her understanding of love, marriage, and societal expectations, particularly concerning gender roles within the African American community. It explores the symbolism of the pear tree and how it represents Janie's youthful dreams and desires. The analysis also delves into the themes of identity, independence, and the challenges faced by women in a patriarchal society, emphasizing the importance of Janie's journey towards self-realization and liberation. Furthermore, the essay discusses the impact of societal structures and the historical context of the novel on the characters' behaviors and choices. The essay concludes by examining Janie's final transformation and her embrace of independence.

Running head: EYES ARE WATCHING GOD
EYES ARE WATCHING GOD
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Their Eyes Were Watching God
Introduction
In the whole book, ‘Their Eyes Were Watching God’, Janie reflected the urge of a
relationship that can address the desires and fantasies of the perfect man. The book is written
by Zora Neale Hurston. Dreaming about the perfect relationship and she started fantasizing
about a Peer Tree, which in the story symbolized her youth, fertility and beauty. In the book,
Janie visits the idea about the bond created with soul, blood and flesh, which is more than
marriages for her, specifically in the life of an African American poor woman, who have not
experienced the presence of male figures in the household (Hurston 1990).
First phase living her superficial dream
The first marriage of Janie was arranged by her beloved grandmother to her then-
husband Logan killicks. Initially, Janie was hesitant but gradually she accepted the decision
of marrying her grandmother’s choice. At first, Janie was treated like a queen by her husband
and was called by names like honey and sugar with a poetic approach. However, eventually,
she realized the amorous behavior of her husband.
The relationship had turned to the arguable understanding of working and pulling her
weight in both metaphorically and figuratively. After or at this very point, Janie realized the
deviation from her dream of a perfect marriage and man, she felt unfulfilled based on her
whimsical dreams. In the next phase of the story, a man enters in Janie's life, who instantly
wins over her heart (Hurston 1990). With the lovable, smooth with a slight snappy dressing
sense, Jody Starks that Janie starts to feel and behave romantically.
Striking reality

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The two weeks of secret relationship slowly led Janie to love Jody more than before.
The mutual feelings between them lead to Jody’s request for the separation of Janie and
Logan followed by running with him. With similar expectations like her whimsical dreams
about the wedding, Janie leaves her husband, Logan for her love. The expectations encircled
around better treatment and romantic relationships rather than asked to work. Although, the
life Janie and Logan had together was not at all perfect but it was better in comparison to
many African American marriages at that time (Hurston 1990). In spite of this fact, Janie was
found too consumed in her dreams and interests to have noticed the relationship.
A new life with the hope of fulfilling her dreams
After the step of separation, Jodie and Janie decided Florida as their new home but
soon realized a very few rates of inhabitants. With the establishment of his character as well-
off and intelligent, Jodie continues to be the mayor. In her speech during the inaugural
function for Jody’s role as a Mayor, she was addressed as “mah wife don’t know nothin’
‘bout no speech-making’. Ah never married her for nothin’ lak dat. She’s uh woman and her
place is in de home” (Hurston, 40). Noticeably he made his wife uncomfortable as even if
Janie does not prefer to work but she was hurt by Jody’s harsh opinion about her.
The following phases in the chapters reflected the increasing tension and discomfort
between Jody and Janie by the evident fact that Janie was feeling dissatisfied and
disheartened to be working at the shop. One of the reasons behind the arguments was the
understandable but frequent mistakes that Janie made during her contribution to the shop.
With the mark of this evidence, the dissatisfaction of Janie for her partner Jody was growing.
An evening of their relationship also experienced physical violence, when Janie did not offer
food as per the expectations of Jodie. After the incident, Jodie stormed off from the house,
which led Janie stunt and shocked when she realizes that the expectations and assumptions
about Jody were completely false. The dreams about the perfect man did not match with the

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characteristics of Jody, rather than that “just something she had grabbed up to drape her
dreams over (Hurston, 72).”
Harsh realization
The initiation of depression leads back to her realization of noticeable gaps from her
expectations of an ideal relationship. With the passing years, Janie started feeling
disconnected from the current situation that she is experiencing, “[sticking] out into the
future, imagining her life different from what it [is] (Hurston, 76).” Later she accepted the
fact of not having or being able to experience an unattainable ‘perfect man’ with ‘perfect
life’. With resemblance of the narrator’s view over men to that of the situation and
acceptance of Janie’s outlook about ideal marriage and man. The narrator’s attempts at
describing every man as, “ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board (Hurston, 1).”
The dreams of Janie were completely unfeasible and distant with passing years. The
realization escalated when she got hit by a harsh reality that his physical appearance of Jody
was different than what it was before due to the approaching old age. However, the person
who was being insulted for the aging features was Janie. However, this time, Janie felt
empowered as did not take much time in replying, “when you pull down yo’ britches, you
look lak de change uh life (Hurston, 78).” The comments of Janie badly hurt Jody as he
experienced a discomfort hearing about his cherished maleness, as it was the incident,
“robbing him of the illusion of irresistible maleness that all men cherish (Hurston, 79).”
Although, Janie has accepted the truth regarding the idea of an ideal relationship, in that very
moment, she felt empowered and in control of her life with a step closer to what she dreamt
about her stand in life.
Stereotyped behavior of gender roles

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In spite of the bitter relationship between Jody and Janie, Janie still cared for her
partner, which was evident from her habits like bringing soup, but the replies of Jody was
unforgiving and harsh, “naw, thank you, ah’m havin’ uh hard enough time tuh try and git
well as it is (Hurston, 82).” These instances made Janie upset and disheartened, which she
used to share with Phoeby, her friend. Janie stated in her conversation, “I’d ruther be dead
than for Jody tuh think Ah’d hurt him (Hurston, 82).” This statement of Janie reflected her
submissive behavior as she regretted taking a stand for her.
After the demise of Jody, Janie was financially stable. In the path along life, she met a
young man, with the nick name ‘Tea Cake’ or otherwise as Vergible Woods. When Janie
made the decision of marrying Tea Cake, they started living together in Everglades, where
she found a friendly person named as Mrs. Turner, who used to praise her for her skin color
and mixed features.
The author of this novel clearly explores the traditional practices around gender roles
and connections in the society between women and men. Even Nanny believes that marrying
Tea Cake was a mistake for Janie as she should make the decision of marriage only for
protection rather than love (Hurston 1990).
In the previous sections of the story, Janie was regarded by her marital status by her
two husbands, Logan and Jody. There have been few arguments that considered the
depictions in the novel as the practice of masculinity in dominating and objectifying women.
The novel is a direct reflection for the period after slavery in Florida, which shaped the belief
and behavior of the black men according to their white patriarchal society, where masculinity
is portrayed by respecting women only when they have married someone, are good-looking
or attractive and are financially independent due to the previous marriages (Hurston 1990).
The struggle of black women adds up to the significant fight for the state of equality.

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Description of gender roles and societal structure
Nanny once explained that the hierarchical structure of the society constituting of
women and men, by stating, “Honey, de white man is de ruler of everything…white man
throw down the load and tell de nigger man to pick it up, He picks it up because he has to, but
he doesn’t tote it.” The perception of superiority amongst the white men led to the state of
oppressing the blacks.
In the novel, femininity is demonstrated by symbolizing mules, nature’s elements and
mules. The book reflected the dominant practices of considering ‘woman’ as the trophy prize,
which a man possesses, where a woman needs to obey husbands and look pretty (Johnson
2016).
Mule in the novel represents the female gender role, where they are dominated or
suppressed by the male roles. The stereotyped behavior of the women is demonstrated, which
apparently requires constant support and is dependent on men (Johnson 2016). These
stereotypical behaviors in the novel are grown by the chain of behavior over the American
women, which protects the growth of individuality and even restricts from the pursuit of
personal happiness.
In the novel, Janie is constantly in search of her own individuality, stand and voice
but is getting consumed under the stereotypes and expectations of the gender roles. Along
with her behavioral approach towards life, her looks were also determined by the desires and
authority of the men she has experienced in her life.
Concluding Janie’s life and the novel
In the conclusion of the novel, the narrator depicted the gradual approach of Janie
towards independence. After the demise of her partner, Tea Cake, Janie made the decision of
moving back to Eatonville for the start of an independent life where put her hair down while
sitting with her beloved friend Pheoby. In the end, the narration reflected the new cultivated

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image and understanding of Janie about gender roles and at last, she became the woman she
always wanted to be, Janie became a ‘liberated black woman’.

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References:
Hurston, Z.N., 1990. Their Eyes Were Watching God. 1937. New York: Perennial, pp.15-16.
Johnson, B., 2016. Metaphor, Metonymy and Voice in Their Eyes Were Watching God. In
Black literature and literary theory (pp. 205-219). Routledge.