The novel Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, marriage and the realities of love are a key theme throughout Janie’s story. Hurston makes it evident to discover how to love and what one wants from a marriage one must first experience a relationship that teaches them what they want. Janie experiences in her first two marriages what she looks for in a man and a marriage; she finds her ideal relationship with Tea Cake and experiences a love that is real and two-sided. The marriage and life she shares with Tea Cake differs from her earlier marriages by the abundance of emotions they both show; the happiness, understanding, kindness, and affection they experience are signs of a real love.
At a young age, Jeanie is told love comes …show more content…
Janie feels as though love has given her a second chance to experience something meaningful. Tea Cake and Janie love each other proportionally and have a genuine care for each other. When Janie is upset and crying Tea Cake comes in, “he takes her head in his hands and eases himself into a chair. Janie doesn’t say anything. He sits stroking her head and looking down into her face,” (121). Unlike her earlier husbands, Tea Cake gives Janie a freedom and range of activities the other men had limited. Tea Cake introduces Janie to gambling and other activities that bring an excitement to Janie’s life because he wants her to be happy. Janie describes her experience of the first time she gambled as “very exciting… [and she is touching] a dice for the first time in her life,” (125). The experiences Tea Cake gives to Janie and helps her to experience leave room for their love to grow and deepen through enjoyment of life …show more content…
Tea Cake still allows Janie to help out when times get hard as long as she is willing, and what she wants. He believes in honesty between the partners in a marriage; Tea Cakes gentle compassion for Janie gives her the security to speak her mind to him. Even where Janie uses strong language and threats Tea Cake understands it all comes from her love and compassion for him. Janie knows Tea Cake cares enough about her to listen to her thoughts and understand why she feels this way. His willingness to listen shows their love is real because they can be open and honest with each other without holding back. “Tea Cake, if you don’t hurry up and tell me, Ah’ll take and beat yo’ head flat as uh dime,” (122). Tea Cake is concerned with Janie’s wellbeing and protection; he would lay his life down for her, and he
At a young age, Jeanie is told love comes …show more content…
Janie feels as though love has given her a second chance to experience something meaningful. Tea Cake and Janie love each other proportionally and have a genuine care for each other. When Janie is upset and crying Tea Cake comes in, “he takes her head in his hands and eases himself into a chair. Janie doesn’t say anything. He sits stroking her head and looking down into her face,” (121). Unlike her earlier husbands, Tea Cake gives Janie a freedom and range of activities the other men had limited. Tea Cake introduces Janie to gambling and other activities that bring an excitement to Janie’s life because he wants her to be happy. Janie describes her experience of the first time she gambled as “very exciting… [and she is touching] a dice for the first time in her life,” (125). The experiences Tea Cake gives to Janie and helps her to experience leave room for their love to grow and deepen through enjoyment of life …show more content…
Tea Cake still allows Janie to help out when times get hard as long as she is willing, and what she wants. He believes in honesty between the partners in a marriage; Tea Cakes gentle compassion for Janie gives her the security to speak her mind to him. Even where Janie uses strong language and threats Tea Cake understands it all comes from her love and compassion for him. Janie knows Tea Cake cares enough about her to listen to her thoughts and understand why she feels this way. His willingness to listen shows their love is real because they can be open and honest with each other without holding back. “Tea Cake, if you don’t hurry up and tell me, Ah’ll take and beat yo’ head flat as uh dime,” (122). Tea Cake is concerned with Janie’s wellbeing and protection; he would lay his life down for her, and he