Essay About Zora Niel Hurston And Janies Character

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Zora Niel Hurston
The novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, written by, Zora Neale Hurston, was
full of imagination, imagery and phrasing. Janies 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 Janies 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 Janies character, Ms. Hurston extends
a recognition and understanding of humanitys need to escape emptiness. “Dem meat skins is got
tuh rattle tuh make out theys alive.” (Hurston 183) Her solution is simple: “”Yuh got tuh go
there tuh know there.” (Hurston 185)
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 like happiness is
comprised of, “If you kin see de light at daybreak, you dont care if you die at dusk. Its so many
people never seen de light at all.” (Hurston 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 Killicks for protection rather than love. He seemed to feel that he
Zora Niel Hurston
deserved to slap her around. Janie soon realizes that she is living in Nannys 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.”
(Hurston 32) This shows a great strength in her character because even if Joe was not 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 didnt made many speeches with rhymes to her,
but he bought her the best things the butcher had.”( Hurston34) Jodys 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.” ( Hurston 67) He is good to Janie but he is also good to his
animals.