Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston is an inspirational novel. The protagonist, Janie, embarks on a journey of self discovery, through heartbreak, domestic abuse, and happiness, she learns that she is free to make her own choices and live life her own way. One of the biggest themes in the novel is love. From the very beginning Janie is searching for love and what it means. Throughout Janie’s different marriages, she develops her own idea of what love is, which she eventually shares with Phoebe. The theme of love carries the narrative of the story far beyond the realm of the story and into the hearts of its readers—encouraging them to question what love means to them. Early in the novel, Janie has an experience with a blossoming
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Nanny believed that getting married to someone who could take care of Janie was love. She believed that as long as you were provided for, the love would come later. Nanny arranged a marriage between Janie and Logan Killicks, a man who was many years older than she. In the times of trouble, Janie turns to the pear tree. “She was back and forth to the pear tree continuously wondering and thinking…Yes, she would love Logan after they were married” (21). Janie is racking her brain for reasons why she should marry Logan. She only decides to because Nanny said that she should. For Janie, this adds more confusion to her idea of love. She now believes that marriage entails love, something that proves harmful in her later marriage to Joe Starks. After three months of marriage to Logan, Janie begins to doubt if she loves Logan or not. After a while, “…Janie noticed that her husband had stopped talking in rhymes to her. He had ceased to wonder at her long black hair and finger it” (26). Janie learns that her physical appearance can only hold a man’s interest for so long and eventually, they’re going to stop bowing down and kissing the ground she walks on. The illusion that Janie had about love coming after marriage has been destroyed. However, when a stranger shows up in town, Janie has conflicting feelings about what she should do. “Janie pulled back a long time because he did not represent sun-up and pollen and blooming trees, but he spoke for far horizon. He spoke for change and chance” (29). Janie has this idea of what she wants because of her experience with the tree and Joe doesn’t fit that. However, Joe has one thing that Logan doesn’t—a sense of adventure. He has this grand plan to be mayor of the first black incorporated town. One night, she brings it up to Logan about running away. Although he doesn’t seem like it, Logan actually loves Janie and by her throwing it in his face that she wants to leave, he is
Nanny believed that getting married to someone who could take care of Janie was love. She believed that as long as you were provided for, the love would come later. Nanny arranged a marriage between Janie and Logan Killicks, a man who was many years older than she. In the times of trouble, Janie turns to the pear tree. “She was back and forth to the pear tree continuously wondering and thinking…Yes, she would love Logan after they were married” (21). Janie is racking her brain for reasons why she should marry Logan. She only decides to because Nanny said that she should. For Janie, this adds more confusion to her idea of love. She now believes that marriage entails love, something that proves harmful in her later marriage to Joe Starks. After three months of marriage to Logan, Janie begins to doubt if she loves Logan or not. After a while, “…Janie noticed that her husband had stopped talking in rhymes to her. He had ceased to wonder at her long black hair and finger it” (26). Janie learns that her physical appearance can only hold a man’s interest for so long and eventually, they’re going to stop bowing down and kissing the ground she walks on. The illusion that Janie had about love coming after marriage has been destroyed. However, when a stranger shows up in town, Janie has conflicting feelings about what she should do. “Janie pulled back a long time because he did not represent sun-up and pollen and blooming trees, but he spoke for far horizon. He spoke for change and chance” (29). Janie has this idea of what she wants because of her experience with the tree and Joe doesn’t fit that. However, Joe has one thing that Logan doesn’t—a sense of adventure. He has this grand plan to be mayor of the first black incorporated town. One night, she brings it up to Logan about running away. Although he doesn’t seem like it, Logan actually loves Janie and by her throwing it in his face that she wants to leave, he is