Summary Of Their Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurston
In the book Their Eyes Were Watching God published in 1937, by Zora Neale Hurston explores the story of a girl named Janie, and her search for love. Janie as a young girl finds herself on an individual quest for love, and personal freedom. Through Janie’s journey she gets involved in three different marriages that help her grow as an individual as well as gain a better understanding of what love is. Janie also learns different lessons through her experiences with marriage, which contributes to Janie’s own personal growth as a woman. Janie’s first marriage was to a man named Logan Killicks, which was arranged by her grandmother also known as nanny when Janie was 16 years of age. One day Janie was caught by nanny in the act of kissing a boy named Johnny Taylor. After this incident nanny decided that Janie was now a woman, and so needed to get married instantly. Zora Neal Hurston states “Yeah Janie, youse got yo’ womanhood on yuh. So Ah mout ez well tell yuh whut Ah been savin’ up for uh spell. Ah wants to see you married right away”(12). Nanny wants Janie to get married so that she has security, and protection so that Janie does not get taken advantage of Nanny says,
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“Tain’t Logan Killicks Ah wants you to have, baby, its protection”(15). Nanny is trying to look out for Janie’s best interest by arranging a marriage between Janie and Logan. Although Nanny is doing what she thinks is best Janie at first seems to hate the idea of getting married to Logan Killicks. Zora Neal Hurston states, “The vision of Logan Killicks was desecrating the pear tree, but Janie didn’t know how to tell Nanny that. She merely hunched over and pouted at the floor” (14). Janie had her first experience of sexual awakening under a blooming pear tree in the spring. So the blooming pear tree represents romantic idealized love, but Janie sees Logan as ruining this vision. Logan is a representation of everything Janie does not romanticize about.
Janie eventually comes around to the idea that she would possibly learn to love Logan Killicks. Zora Neal Hurston states “Yes, she would love Logan after they were married. She could see no way for it to come about, but Nanny and the old folks had said it, so it must be so. Husbands and wives always loved each other, and that was what marriage meant.”(21). Janie listens to her Nanny and old folks, and believes that they are right about loving Logan. Janie takes on what some may say would be an ignorant view of love. Janie thinks that just because two people are married than that has to mean they are in love with one another since marriage is often times perceived as being about love.
Janie learns her first lesson soon enough that she cannot learn to love Logan.
A month after Nanny died Janie realized that being married to Logan was not going to bring about love. Zora Neal Hurston states “The familiar people and things had failed her so she hung over the gate and looked up the road towards way off. She knew now that marriage did not make love. Janie’s first dream was dead, so she became a woman”(25). Janie came to the realization that she does not want Logan, and Janie’s experience with being married to Logan had crushed her dream. Janie becoming a woman at the death of her dream means that womanhood is about hardship, and Janie had now experienced the hardship of womanhood. Janie Ultimately does not love Logan, and she now realizes that love cannot be learned with
marriage.
Joe Starks was Janie’s second husband after Logan. Janie meets Joe Starks while Logan is away. When Janie saw Joe Starks for the first time she thought of him as well dressed and confident. Zora Neal Hurston states, “It was a citified, stylish dressed man with his hat set at an angle that didn’t belong in these parts”(27). Janie was impressed by the man, and so went out of her way to get his attention. After Janie got Joes attention they immediately started talking, and they began meeting up everyday to talk with one another. However Janie did not view Joe as representing the ideals of her dreams. Instead Joe offered ambition, and the possibility of a new life. Zora Neal Hurston states, “Janie pulled back a long time because he did not represent sun-ups and pollen and blooming trees, but he spoke for far horizon. He spoke for change and chance”(29). Although Joe does not represent ideal love he does offer a chance at a new future, and the possibility of a far horizon.
Eventually Joe asks Janie to run away with him, and as things with Logan had no chance of improving Janie decided to run off with Joe. Janie’s impulsive decision to leave with Joe led to Janie’s next lesson, which is that equality is important in a marriage. Joe was very controlling of Janie, and did not treat her as an equal.
“Tain’t Logan Killicks Ah wants you to have, baby, its protection”(15). Nanny is trying to look out for Janie’s best interest by arranging a marriage between Janie and Logan. Although Nanny is doing what she thinks is best Janie at first seems to hate the idea of getting married to Logan Killicks. Zora Neal Hurston states, “The vision of Logan Killicks was desecrating the pear tree, but Janie didn’t know how to tell Nanny that. She merely hunched over and pouted at the floor” (14). Janie had her first experience of sexual awakening under a blooming pear tree in the spring. So the blooming pear tree represents romantic idealized love, but Janie sees Logan as ruining this vision. Logan is a representation of everything Janie does not romanticize about.
Janie eventually comes around to the idea that she would possibly learn to love Logan Killicks. Zora Neal Hurston states “Yes, she would love Logan after they were married. She could see no way for it to come about, but Nanny and the old folks had said it, so it must be so. Husbands and wives always loved each other, and that was what marriage meant.”(21). Janie listens to her Nanny and old folks, and believes that they are right about loving Logan. Janie takes on what some may say would be an ignorant view of love. Janie thinks that just because two people are married than that has to mean they are in love with one another since marriage is often times perceived as being about love.
Janie learns her first lesson soon enough that she cannot learn to love Logan.
A month after Nanny died Janie realized that being married to Logan was not going to bring about love. Zora Neal Hurston states “The familiar people and things had failed her so she hung over the gate and looked up the road towards way off. She knew now that marriage did not make love. Janie’s first dream was dead, so she became a woman”(25). Janie came to the realization that she does not want Logan, and Janie’s experience with being married to Logan had crushed her dream. Janie becoming a woman at the death of her dream means that womanhood is about hardship, and Janie had now experienced the hardship of womanhood. Janie Ultimately does not love Logan, and she now realizes that love cannot be learned with
marriage.
Joe Starks was Janie’s second husband after Logan. Janie meets Joe Starks while Logan is away. When Janie saw Joe Starks for the first time she thought of him as well dressed and confident. Zora Neal Hurston states, “It was a citified, stylish dressed man with his hat set at an angle that didn’t belong in these parts”(27). Janie was impressed by the man, and so went out of her way to get his attention. After Janie got Joes attention they immediately started talking, and they began meeting up everyday to talk with one another. However Janie did not view Joe as representing the ideals of her dreams. Instead Joe offered ambition, and the possibility of a new life. Zora Neal Hurston states, “Janie pulled back a long time because he did not represent sun-ups and pollen and blooming trees, but he spoke for far horizon. He spoke for change and chance”(29). Although Joe does not represent ideal love he does offer a chance at a new future, and the possibility of a far horizon.
Eventually Joe asks Janie to run away with him, and as things with Logan had no chance of improving Janie decided to run off with Joe. Janie’s impulsive decision to leave with Joe led to Janie’s next lesson, which is that equality is important in a marriage. Joe was very controlling of Janie, and did not treat her as an equal.