Their Eyes Were Watching God Research Paper

Final Draft: "She knew now that marriage did not make love." Janie's first dream was dead, so she became a woman." This powerful quote encapsulates the relentless effect of dreams on Janie Crawford. In Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie's journey towards self-realization is intricately portrayed through her three marriages and the influence of her grandmother, Nanny. Furthermore, each relationship reflects a pivotal stage in her evolving pursuit of freedom and independence. Through Janie's marriages to Logan Killicks, Joe Starks, and Tea Cake, distinct phases of her personal growth are shown but also serve as catalysts for her relentless pursuit of freedom, her dreams, and self-realization. Ultimately, these marriages showcase her transformation from a passive, …show more content…
She concludes that she will never find the right kind of love—the love that gives her both freedom and passion. In contrast, Janie's relationship with Tea Cake represents her dreams and aspirations of love and freedom. Unlike her other relationships, Tea Cake gave her the balance of love and partnership. Tea Cake also treated her like she was human. For example, Tea Cake decides to do activities with her, such as playing checkers. This partnership impacted Janie and allowed her to realize that with love should come partnership. Tea Cake's treatment of Janie as a human being rather than an object or possession contrasts sharply with her experiences in her marriages to Logan and Jody. She realized she wanted to find love and freedom all along, which Tea Cake gave her. The freedom aspect helped Janie find who she was and what she wanted. When Tea Cake gets rabbies, Janie shows a side of passion that she had not shown with Joe Starks or Logan Killicks. Through her relationship with Tea Cake, Janie finally achieves the balance of love and freedom she has been seeking, which helps her understand her own identity and