Their Eyes Were Watching God

Throughout the book, Their Eyes Were Watching God, the main character Janie grows through each one of her many relationships. They are what affect her the most and add to her defining personality. The first relationship you see is Janie and her grandmother, Nanny. Her Grandmother was born into slavery and dreamt of a better life for her. Nanny wants Janie to be in a secure situation before she dies, but Janie has different dreams. “The thousand sister calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree . . .” This shows Janie want of her own life, where she is respected and seen as an equal. This ideal of love and fulfillment is at the center of Janie’s quest throughout the book.

Janie gives in to her grandmother’s wishes, not wanting to disappoint or worry her. She marries Logan Killicks, who can provide for Janie. She knows that she doesn’t love Logan but assumes that she will love him eventually. Her and Logan begin to fight and Janie says that he expects her to worship him but that she never will.

Later she meets Jody. He has big dreams and exudes possibility and freedom. Janie sees Jody as her way to reach her horizon. “Janie knew that God tore down the old world every evening and built a new one by sun-up. It was wonderful to see it take form with the sun and emerge from the gray dust of its making,” This shows Janie’s uncertainty about her fate or her decisions. She doesn’t know what to expect with running of with Jody and his dreams. Also, this shows Janie’s youthful romantic desires. She is willing to give up her secure, dull life for any form of change.

Later on, he tries to shape her into his image of the type of woman that he wants and Janie has to distance herself from her emotions to survive living with Jody’s rules. He makes her put up her hair by saying, “skeered some de rest of us mens might touch it round dat store,” showing his control over her. His power restricts her and she loses some of her strong personality. When Jody gets sick and dies Janie reasserts her identity by letting down her long hair becoming the sensual woman she was denied of from Jody.

As Janie enjoys her newfound freedom of speech, she becomes more introspective and self-aware. She then meets Tea Cake and sees that he could be her way to reach the horizon. The narrator says, “Every day after that they managed . . . to talk . . ..” this shows the respect he has for her and that their relationship is on a more intimate level Janie hasn’t experienced yet.

With Jody, silence was seen as Janie’s weakness, but now silence is becoming Janie’s strength. “They sat in company with the others . . . They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God,” This quote reflects how Tea Cake has affected Janie’s growth and strength. His presence helps her to encounter the storm boldly and survive.

Tea Cake’s death reflects how much Janie has grown as a person and how secure she has become. With this new strength she was able to save her own life instead of giving in to Tea Cake’s disoriented rage. During the trial they say, “It was not death she feared. It was misunderstanding.” Her strength has gown beyond fear and pity gossip. Now, she only wishes for recognition for her love of Tea Cake and her acquired courage. Janie realizes that suffering and sacrifice are necessary for self-discovery. In the end, Janie is “Pulling in her horizon.” She finally achieves her goal and dreams. She has found true love, which has enabled her to find her own voice.