FREE ESSAY ON THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD

THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD

The novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, written by, Zora Neale Hurston, was full of
imagination, imagery and phrasing. Janie's character and dialogue seemed to slip wisdom
into the readers' head without them knowing their ingesting something deep and true. The
ups and downs of Janie's life have made her a stronger person. This is shown endless
times throughout the novel. 
I feel that this story recognizes that there are endless problems to the human condition,
such as the need to possess, fear of the unknowing and stagnation. However, the story
does not give a feeling of hopelessness. Through Janie's character, Ms. Hurston extends a
recognition and understanding of humanity's need to escape emptiness. "Dem meatskins is
got tuh rattle tuh make out they's alive (183)" Her solution is simple: "Yuh got tuh go
there tuh know there." Janie sets out on a quest to make sense of inner questions. She
does not sit back and let the tragedies in her life cripple her. Instead it strengthens
her. Through questioning and discovery she better understands the world she lives in and
how small a thing happiness is comprised of: "If you kin see de light at daybreak, you
don't keer if you die at dusk. It's so many people never seen de light at all. (151)"
This quote caught my eye while I was reading because it makes you truly think of what
really makes you happy in life.
Janie married Logan Killick's for protection rather than love. He seemed to feel that he
deserved to slap her around. Janie soon realizes that she is living in Nanny's dreams
rather than her own and decides to escape with Jody. "A feeling of sudden newness and
change came over her.... Even if Joe was not there waiting for her, the change was bound
to do her good. (32)" This shows a great strength in her character because even if Joe
wasn't there for her she would still be determined to change without him. Joe seems
closer to her ideal, closer to the dream of marriage that she has. But, he represents a
black man who wishes to gain wealth and power. From the beginning of their relationship
there were signs that he was not the love Janie was looking for. "On the train the next
day, Joe didn't made many speeches with rhymes to her, but he bought her the best things
the butcher had...(34)" Jody's life revolved around money this was already apparent. He
bought her things because he was ownership-oriented. Jody treated her more like an object
than a human. He thinks that, "Somebody got to think for women and chilun and chickens
and cows (67)" He is good to Janie but he is also good to his animals. His attitude
toward Janie is shown by the over worked mules he buys and sets free. He allows the mules
to wander around town as evidence of his generosity and wealth. "Freein' dat mule makes a
mighty fine man outa you. Something like George Washington...you got uh town so you freed
uh mule. You have tuh have power tuh free things and dat makes you lak uh king uh
something (55)." Here Janie realizes that she too serves only as a reflection of his
position and wealth.
Tea Cake, on the other hand, gave Janie the freedom to be who she was, not who someone
wanted her to be. He allowed her to bloom. He not only encouraged her growth to
independence but also furthers it by teaching her skills and praising her talents.
Although he does not have the financial stability of the first two men he has an openness
of mind that allows Janie to escape from people's expectations. He makes Janie realize
that she has to decided what she wants out of life, and she discovers she hates the
limitations Nanny imposed on self-fulfillment: "Nanny had taken the biggest thing God
ever made, the neck tight enough to choke her." Even though Tea Cake dies and Janie ends
up alone she has lived a life of experience and a self-realization that gives her peace.
"There are years that ask questions and years that answer." The fact that she is alone
and is now in peace with herself shows the strength of an African American woman.
In conclusion, Janie's life was full of tragedy but she pulled through and made the best
out of what she had. She never gave up and always kept striving for the life she always
wanted. Even though she ended up alone in the end she was still strong and proud of
herself. This shows strength more enduring than anything. She never let anything hold her
down and became at peace with herself.