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Janie's Growth in Their Eyes Were Watching God

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Janie's Growth in Their Eyes Were Watching God
Janie’s Growth in Their Eyes Were Watching God

It has often been claimed that with marriage comes loves. This belief, although true for some, is false for others. Janie, the protagonist in Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, was one of many young ladies who realized love is not always found in marriage. Her previous proposals had discouraged her in her search for true adoration, but, with her third marriage, Janie finally encountered undevoted love. Out of her three marriages, her last one was where Janie grew the most. In Janie’s last marriage with Tea Cake she learns to ignore false rumors that may bring doubt and to trust her husband so her heart will be open to his love.

Janie and Tea Cake were given many setbacks and were constantly being gossiped about in Eatonville. Many believed it was wrong for Janie to be with a man twelve years younger than her and accused Tea Cake of wrongfully wanting Janie. Although Janie enjoyed Tea Cake’s company and initially believed his intentions were true, the rumors the townspeople created made her doubt his authenticity. She questioned him and thought how “he didn’t look like he had too much. Maybe he was hanging around to get in with her and strip her of all that she had” (Hurston 121). These thoughts delayed Janie’s eventual fulfillment of her dreams, but once Tea Cake reassured Janie that his intentions were honest Janie became aware of the townspeople’s false allegations. Janie began to see how the citizens of Eatonville were simply jealous of Janie and Tea Cake’s relationship. After Janie came to this realization, she was able to ignore the townspeople’s thoughts and open up her heart to Tea Cake who filled it with his love. As a result of Janie overlooking rumors, she was able to fulfill her dream of marriage regardless of the differences in her and Tea Cake’s status and age.

Along with this new found characteristic, Janie learned to trust Tea Cake and pay no attention to her



Cited: Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God. Lodi, NJ: Everbind Anthologies, 2004. Print.

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