Their Eyes Were Watching God Love Theme

Love is a Challenge

The novel Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston “is a beautiful story. Huston’s emphasize an innocent African American young girl name Janie looking into the horizon to find true love. A dream of being happy with the man that she really wants to live her innocent life. Even though she married three times, there were minor similarities, but major difference between the three husbands that pull her to them.

In the novel Their eyes were watching God Hurston start by writing about the main character Janie comes from burying the dead. (Hurston 1) Also, Janie tells her story to her best friend Pheoby about everything she went through while in search of true love. Hurston stated that Janie was raised by her grandmother,

which was a slaved to a white family. Janie’s grandmother knowing everything she went through in her adolescent life she did not wanted her granddaughter Janie to go through the same things. Hurston indicated that Janie grandmother before even bearing in mind how Janie felt about getting married forced her to marry someone she did not know or even love.
Hurston point out “It was a spring afternoon in West Florida. Janie had spent most of the day under a blossoming pear tree in the back yard. (Hurston 10) First Janie is exploring the nature of spring. Spring as being part of a season, also a season that seems to her like a regrowth of flowers and life. The Hurston next line tells us Janie “spending every minute that she could steal from her chores” Janie has been putting aside her chores to explore nature. While exploring nature, she experiences a calling from nature. Janie felt that there was something that nature or the blooming pear tree want to teach her something about life. Hurston write in her novel “She saw a dust-bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom; the thousand sister –calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree from root to tiniest branch creaming in every blossom and frothing with delight”. In this passage is like Janie was awaking of her innocent mind into the reality of sexuality. There was something new that she was experimenting on herself. Hurston introduces a fellow name Jonny Taylor, tall and lean. (Hurston 12) This was the first kiss and the end of her youthful. Then Janie was forced into marriage.
Hurston writes in her novel Their eyes were watching God, that Janie was married in three occasions.

Janie was married to three unlike husband wish all of them were not the same and but in one way or another help Janie to find her own needs and objectives in life. Hurston state that Janie was only sixteen when she married her first husband Logan Killicks. Janie’s grandmother tucks Janie in believing that love will come in time. Janie was not interested in Mr. Killicks. “an ain’t gointuh do it no mo’ Nanny. Please don’t ‘make me marry Mr. Killicks. She begs her grandmother not to marry her with Mr. Killicks but, her request was in vein Nanny did not listen to Janie. Janie spoke with disgust about Mr. Killicks when her grandmother mentions his name this is one of those not admired by Janie, his appearance did not call Janie’s attention and his huge age difference and because “He look like som ole skullhead inde grave yard.” (Hurston 13) Despite the fact that Janie didn’t wanted that marriage Hurston stated that Janie “finally out of Nanny’s talk and her own conjectures she made a sort of comfort for herself. Yes, she would love Logan after they were married.” (Hurston 21) Janie convinces with the story her grandmother told her give in to getting married to Mr. Killicks. The marriage was arranged and Janie and Logon got married in Nanny’s parlor. Janie was not receiving the love that a married couple would have but she did receive verbal and treats from her first husband.

Janie was married to receive protection as her grandmother stated to her when she was arranged into marriage. The negative comment coming from Mr. killicks toward Janie was another of his not admire quality that he had. The only thing that Janie can admire is having a house and the 16 acres of land. Hurston indication that in one occasion Mr. killicks was also trying to put Janie to work, and Janie kind of refuse to do the labor.
Jamie’s first dream was dead, so she became a woman.” (Hurston 25) Hurston writes “Long before the year was up, Janie notices that her husband stopped talking in rhymes to her.” (Hurston 26) Janie is feeling that her marriage with Mr. Killicks is not working she doesn’t hear those word he used to tell her in the beginning of their marriage (another admirable thing he had at the beginning). Hurston continues writing “the familiar people and things had failed her so hung over the gate and looked up the roadway off. Janie knew now that marriage did not make love. In other words, the people who she had close to her had lied to her. Now she realizes that getting married because of material possession or protection is nothing to do with true love. In addition, her grandmother has dies leaving her now alone. Janie is not no more the innocent girl from the beginning of the novel, now she has become a grown woman.
Her second marriage was what Hurston write and describe him as “a citified, stylish dressed man with his hat set at an angle that did not belong in these parts.” Janie sees someone that was not from around that place. “Joe Starks was the name, yeah Joe Starks form in and through Georgy. Been working ‘for white folks all his life. Saved up some money –around three hundred dollars, yes indeed right here in his pocket.” (Huston 28) This is Joe, Janie second husband, he came bragging about how he works all his life for white people and about the money he had and what he was there for to accomplish. Hurston continues writing that “Everyday after that they [Janie and Joe] managed to meet in the scrub oaks across the road and talk about when he would be a big ruler of things with her reaping the benefits. Janie pulled back a long time because he did not represent sun-up and pollen and blooming trees, be he spoke for far horizon. He spoke for change and chance.” (Hurston 29) Joe came to Janie when she most needed someone to speak nice words to her. Joe was speaking with rhythm. This was one of the things that Janie admire about Joe since the first time she met him. His appearance, ambitious way of talking and knowing that he wanted to become someone (Big voice).
When Janie leaves Logan for Joe— “This morning air was like a new dress.

That made her fell the apron tied around her waist. She untied it and flung it on a low bush beside the road and walked on, picking flowers and making bouquet”. Janie was releasing herself from the labor that Mr. Killicks had her on. She has set it off herself free, and preparing her marriage bouquet. Hurston continue in this same passage “After that she came to where Joe Starks was waiting for her with a hired rig.” Something she did not get in her first marriage. “He was very solemn and helped her to the seat beside him. With him on it, it sat like some high ruling chair. from now on until death she was going to have flower dust and springtime sprinkled over everything. A bee for her bloom. Her old thoughts were going to come in handy now, but new words would have to be made and said to fit them.” (Hurston 32) Now she felt something new was coming on her way. She did not felt so special when she married Mr. Killicks, but she did feel special when she leaves and married Joe Starks. Janie wasn’t force in this marriage, it was her own choice. Another admiral thing that Janie was attracted by Mr. Starks was material stuff he did give her. Like how Hurston writes in chapter five. “On the Train the next day Joe didn’t make many speeches with rhymes to her, but he bought her the best things the butcher had, like apples and a glass lantern full of candies. This act of Mr. Starks was similar to Mr. Killicks

trying to buy Janie obedience and submission with the material. Despite the fact that they were both in a marriage with Janie they felt they needed to have power and control over her. Both men Mr. Starks and Killicks had a fear on them. Mr. Killicks knew that Janie was not in love with him that she married him because her grandmother decision. On the other hand, Mr. Starks knew that Janie was the wife of Mr. Killicks and Mr. Starks with his sweet talk conquered her. She left Mr. Killicks now Mr. Starks see himself feeling jealous from the other man in the town in Eatonville. Janie as the major’s wife wants to be able to speak with the people in the town. Her husband is arrogant that doesn’t want her to associate with them. He doesn’t want her to speak nor play games in the store with the other people from the community. Mr. Killicks want Janie to work with him in the farm. He does not ask her if she wants to by her own will. Mr. killicks is treating her like the mule. The mule that you buy to work for you. So is Mr. Starks he doesn’t ask Janie if she wants to work in the store is like he demand her to work in the store. The worst decision that he does and that everybody notice is to ask Janie to cover up her precious hair. Hurston writes “what make her keep her heads tied up lak some ole’ oman round de store? Nobody couldn’t git me tuh tie no rag on mah head if ah had hair lak dat.” (Hurston 49) This action gave the town plenty to gossip about Mr. Starks. Janie notice Mr. Starks qualities, but she was also realizing how the power he gains was making him a controlling man. Not only the people of the town, but also he was controlling Janie. Mr. Starks in the same way like Mr. Killicks became verbal abuse to Janie. Mr. Killicks never hit Janie but he did verbal abuse her. Mr. Starks verbal abuse her with negative comments, but also he did physically abuse her. Mr. Starks was no better than Mr. Killicks. Although, the people of the town are experimenting and “the town had a basketful of feelings good and bad about Joe’s positoon and possessions, but none had the temerity to challenge him. They bowed down to him rather, because he was all of these things, and then again he was all of these things because the town bowed down.” (Hurston 50) Everyone summited themselves to Joe and Joe had power over them. Mr. Starks continues his verbal abuse toward his wife Janie. Until one day Janie spoke back to him. Mr. Starks felt so bad, that after that day he became sick and he died.
When Janie’s second husband dies, she felt freedom. Hurston writes “Before she slept that night she burnt up every one of her head rags and went about the house next morning with her hair in one thick braid swinging well below her waist. That was the only change people saw in her.” (Hurston 89) Janie was free at last but it only last for six months. Then Hurston writes about a young man named Vergible Woods also known by “tea cake.” He starts coming around and he with his charms wins Janie’s hearts. Has she become more friendly with him on one occasion he was at her house and she wakes up by tea cake combing her hair and scratching the dandruff from her scalp.” (Hurston 103) This sound like Janie was feeling at ease with tea cake. Then she said to him “Why, Tea Cake? Whut good do combin mah hair do you? It’s mah comfortable, not yourn.” “It’s mine too. Ah ain’t been sleepin’ so good for more’ n uh week cause Ah been wishin’ so bad tuh git mah hand in yo hair. It’s so pretty. It feels jus’ lake underneath uh dove’s wing net to mah face.’ (Hurston 103) Tea Cake like Mr. Starks and Mr. Killicks had the same feeling about Janie’s hair. In some point after this incident Janie had a moment of thinking by herself. Huston writes “All next day in the house and store, she though resisting thoughts about Tea Cake. She couldn’t make him look just like any other man to her. He looked like the love thoughts of women. He could be a bee to a blossom—a pear tree blossom in the spring. He seemed to be crushing scent out of the world with his footsteps. Crushing aromatic herbs with every step he took. Spices hung about him. He was a glance from God.” (Hurston106) Janie was seeing herself in love again. They continue seeing each other because he really wanted her to believe that he was falling for her. The next morning, he came to the house. Hurston writes Tea Cake says to Janie “Thought Ah;d try tuh gti heah soon enough tuh tell yuh mah daytime thoughts. Ah see yuh needs tuh know mah daytime feelings. Ah can’t sense yuh intuh it at night.” Tea Cake wanted to express to Janie that he was really falling for her. Tea cake was different from Mr. Killick and Mr. Starts. Tea cake is young, but he is a lover boy. He doesn’t try to have control of Janie. He does not try to force her to work. He spends time with her and show her how much he cares for her. Even though one time he took her money, and he also hit her, but despite of all the thing between them he shows Janie what was really true love. Janie did not care what others think about Tea Cake.
In conclusion, Hurston writes that at the end, Janie did find herself thought all that she went through with the three relationships she was involved. Janie became a strong woman who will be able to learn to take her own decision. Although, she found what she was looking for “true love,” The love with Tea Cake did not last for long because at the end her true love dies.