Their Eyes Were Watching God Janie's Three Lovers

Janie’s Three Lovers

Falling in love is a difficult situation. People come and go just as a blink of an eye. In “Their Eyes Were Watching God “by Zora Neale Hurston throughout the book the main character, Janie, is on a mission to find love. Three men come into her life and they each leave a different mark. During the years Janie’s life was challenged causing her three husbands bringing her emotional, spiritual and physical growth.

As we have seen in “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston Janie’s adulthood starts earlier than usually. Nanny forces Janie to grow into a woman to satisfy the needs of being taken care of. A wealthy man, named Logan Killicks, is the start of Janie’s trip of love. In the beginning of the marriage Logan treats Janie as if she was a queen. When Janie is not showing him any affections Logan starts to get frustrated with the sight of her. “… ain’t a man to kiss foot long.” He does not treat her like royalty anymore. This is the start of Janie’s physical growth. She is all alone in the world. Growth has hit her with great power.

Despite the torture of marrying Logan Killicks Janie think she has found love with a man named Joe Starks.

When Joe and Janie first set eyes on each other Janie felt like there was a chance at love. Joe was a man of wealth, determination, and independence. The people of Eatonville admired him. He turned their little small town into a wealthy/ thriving town. With Joe, there is intimidation. Janie does a say as he pleases. He controls her mind and soul. “… mighty complement.” The porch sitters and the Eatonville see’s Joe mostly as perfect. Almost everything thing, he does is a satisfaction to the people. Janie thought taking off with Joe was the sight of love. While being Mrs. Mayor to Mr. Mayor she starts to realized, she’s changing into a completely different

person.
After the death of Joe Starks, she feels relieved of what she thought was love. Just as Janie begins to start a new chapter in her life a young careless man comes into her life. “… a seed of fear growing into a little tree.” Going through times of weakness with Joe after the death Janie is scared to try to seek love again. Tea Cake is the new key of her locked heart. As her and Tea Cake begin to start their journey a substance of hesitation begins to form into Janie’s mind. The one thing she wants is love and that is exactly what she starts to see with Tea Cake. He brings back the young Janie to help her live her life as she wished to do when she was young.
Briefly all three husbands brought different things to the table in many ways. As Janie’s life has settle down there are those three men who helped her though physical, emotional and spiritual growth without them Janie’s life would not have been taught it’s lesson. Logan brought physical growth and a wakeup call to life. While Joe brought her emotional growth. He helped her realized what love can bring to your heart. Lastly, Joe gave Janie spiritual growth. She was seeking one thing and she found it with the loveable Vergible Woods.