Their Eyes Were Watching God Character Analysis

Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God and the film, Diary of a Mad Black Woman focus on the stories of two resilient African American women who overcome various adversities. They are both in abusive marriages, where they are abused physically and mentally. After series of events, they become independent women, learn how to adapt to the new environment they are in, and learn how to face the new set of challenges they are presented with.Throughout their stories, Janie and Helen characters’ undergo various changes as their characters develop and mature.

In the beginning of the novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie is a naive and curious young woman. Her naivety leaves her longing for a loving marriage; her curiosity leads her looking for something greater than what she has. This leads her to leave Logan, her first husband, for Joe Starks who she falls for due to his ambitious personality. As Joe’s wife, she comes to the realization that the expectations of the marriage she

desperately longed for was unrealistic. As Joe’s wife, the mayor’s wife, she held a position of authority, but Joe's’ controlling attitude prevented her from exerting the little power she has. Joe acted in a demeaning manner towards Janie and limited to her role to being a “housewife.” After Joe’s death, Janie leaves her former life as the “mayor's’ wife,” and she marries Tea Cake, who is of a lower socioeconomic status than her.
Janie and Tea Cake's relationship allows her to learn more about about herself and express herself freely. TeaCake dies shortly after he is bitten by a rabid dog, leaving Janie devastated and heartbroken. After a series of tragic events, it becomes apparent that Janie has grown and matures throughout the novel.

The film Diary of a Mad Black Woman follows the story of Helen, a woman who has been married to her husband Charles for over twenty years.

Unlike Janie, Helen is content with her life, although she only knows “how to be a housewife.” When her husband files for a divorce, she has a nervous breakdown. She is reluctant to leave her husband despite being aware of his numerous affairs with various women and children he conceived through those affairs. When Charles leaves her, she is forced to step outside of her comfort zone and has to learn how to work and provide for herself. Helen is deeply hurt from the recent events involving her husband and is cautious of falling in love with Orlando, a man she meets during this time. She is furious toward Charles and holds a grudge against him which prevents her from achieving happiness and moving on. Janie’s character displays growth when she learns to forgive Charles, allowing her to move on and find out her true

identity.