The Theme Of Happiness In Hurston's 'Their Eyes Were Watching God'

Nicholas Sparks once wrote, “ You can’t live your life for other people. You have to do what’s right for you, even if it hurts some people you love.” In other words, a person must live life in his favor because it’s his own happiness that truly matters. In the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Hurston uses many devices to illustrate that if one wants to truly achieve inner happiness he must live life for himself and no one else.

Of least significance to Janie is her first husband, Logan Killicks. Hurston uses pathos to show that Janie and her first husband are not meant to be even though society thinks otherwise. Nanny thinks that Logan is really made for Janie, but Janie doesn’t love Logan. Janie tells Nanny, “Cause you told me Ah

mus gointer love him,and,and Ah don’t (page 23).” Janie expresses to Nanny that she doesn’t actually have love for killacks. Janie is living her married life for Nanny, but she eventually speaks up for herself and finally tells Nanny her true feelings for Logan. Hurston depicts pathos with the quote, because love is a strong emotion, and because Janie does not love Logan, they should not be together. “Heah you got uh prop tuh lean on all yo’ bawn days, and big protection(page 23).” Nanny feels Janie needs to be with Logan because he has numerous things to offer her. When Janie tells Nanny how she really feels, Nanny doesn’t approve of it. Logan feels as though he treats Janie with all respect and like the woman she is. “He said he never mean to lay de weight uh his hand on me in malice(page.22)” Logan tells Janie that he will never hit her, and because of his love for her. Logan feels that he will never hit her, and that is his word.
Next in line is Jody, Janie’s second husband. Hurston uses logos to show Janie and her second husband do not belong together even though society thinks otherwise. In the beginning, Jody is Janie’s saver and superman that came from nowhere. Jody feels as if he is saving Janie from all her struggles that her first husband put her through. “Fan yo’self and eat p’taters dat other folks plant just special for you(page.29).” Jody feels as if he is going to be the one for Janie that will treat her right. He tells Janie that she will be treated like the doll she looks like. Hurston uses logos to show the audience that looks and words are deceiving, because Jody tells Janie sweet nothings and end up making her life miserable. Hicks feels as though Jody and /Janie aren’t meant to be together, and Janie needs to be with him. “ you ought know you can’t take no ’oman lak dats from no man lak him (page.38).” Hicks feels that Janie was too good for a man like Jody and feels as if he can take Janie from Jody. Hicks thinks that he could take Janie from Jody because he feels he is the better man. Janie feels that Jody starts off as a good husband, but then starts to change down the line. “She felt far away from things and lonely(page.46).” Janie feels lonely and misplaced because Jody is paying more attention to his work more than he is to her. Jody started to change because in the beginning he main priority was on Janie and how she felt.
The greatest of them all is Tea Cake, Janie’s third Husband.

Hurston uses ethos to show that Tea Cake was Janie’s best husband even though society thinks other wise. Tea Cake thinks that he will treat and show Janie a better time in life than any man has ever did. “Ah tell you lak you told me--you’se mighty hard tuh satisfy. Ah betcha dem lips don't satisfy yuh neither(page.103).” Tea Cake was telling Janie that she put on the show that she is hard to please but truly it only takes the right things to make her pleased. He felt that most of the things that Janie was doing was a show. Society felt that Tea Cake was playing Janie and Janie was taking chances falling in love with Tea Cake. “You doin right not tuh talk it, but Janie, you’se takin’ uuh mighty big chance(page.115).” Janie was having a discussion and they were telling her that she was taking a chance running off with Tea Cake. Phoebe feels as if Tea Cake is just a bomb ready to explode in Janie face. Janie felt that Tea Cake was the true love that she was always looking for in her life. “He done showed me where it’s de thought dat makes de difference in age(page.115).” Tea Cake changes janie’s whole train of thought around , so there had to be some love somewhere to make someone change their mind. Janie was really in love with Tea Cake.

In the end, Janie finds what she has looked for ever since the blossom of the pear tree; happiness within yourself. Janie stops listening to everyone when it came to her relationships

and finally ran off with someone she actually loves. With her true loves she finally understands that she should have made decisions for herself all along. So when Janie had accomplished her inner happiness she knew what true love was.