Their Eyes Were Watching God
Essay Preview: Their Eyes Were Watching God
Report this essay
In the story Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston expresses both the values and consequences of true love. Janie Crawford played the main character, Janie experienced three unique marriages, Janies first two marriages were not as affectionate as her third marriage to tea cake. Was janies marriage to tea cake really the image of a pear tree love that janie always yearned for? I truly believe that Janies marriage to tea cake was the unconditional love she was in search for.
Janies first marriage was to Logan Killicks, Janie was forced into to marriage by grandma. Grandma wanted Janie to be well taken care of and protected before she died. Janie was disgusted of Logan. Janies marriage to Logan destroyed her romantic concept of love.
“By forcing Janie into the role of the mule, Logan shattered Janies imaginary identification: he desecrates the pear tree, Janies ideal of love and marriage.” Logan dominated Janie by forcing her to labor. He didnt like for Janie to just sit around, if he was out working in the field he wanted her right by his side working as well. Janies experience with Logan later taught her that marriage will never make love.
Janies second marriage was to Joseph Starks was very nice in the beginning, but as time passed joe started to treat Janie as an object. After the two fled to Eatonville, Joe was elected mayor of the town everyone looked up to him. Joe always expected Janie to be dressed a certain, speak a certain tone or dont speak at all. Joe stressed control, “Joe was a man of possession and position.”(McGowan) Joe felt that Janies place was in the home. Joe did not allow Janie to voice her opinion what so ever even if she was being spoken to.