Essay Sample about Janie's Marriages in Their Eyes Were Watching God

Everyone goes on a voyage of self-discovery. Some may find a new friend while others may find a new hobby. Whatever it may be, self-discovery comes in a different form for everyone.  In the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, Janie discovers her true self through her three marriages by learning that love is the key to happiness, good status is not fulfilling, and happiness comes in many forms.

Throughout her relationship with Logan Killicks, Janie discovers that love is what gives her happiness. Disappointed, she tells Nanny; “You told me Ah mus gointer love him, and, and, Ah don’t” (Hurston 23). Janie’s emotions convey her unhappiness with the way things are going in her relationship with Logan. At this point, she is not quite sure why she cannot just choose to love Logan, but she is beginning to discover that just choosing to love someone is not how she wants to live her life. Later, Janie explains; “But Nanny, Ah wants to want him sometimes. Ah don’t want him to do all de wantin’” (Hurston 23). According to Janie, she has learned that she needs to truly love someone and that it is not just a choice to be made. This relationship with Logan Killicks is teaching her that she will not be happy until she is with someone that she truly loves. By the end of this relationship, Janie learns that for her, love produces happiness.

During her second marriage, with Joe Starks, Janie learns that good status does not fulfill her. When Janie has the opportunity to speak at the lamppost lighting, Joe interrupts with “mah wife don’t know nothin’ ‘bout no speech-makin’. Ah never married her for nothin’ lak dat. She’s a woman and her place is in de home,” and Janie “went down the road behind him that night feeling cold” (Hurston 43). Joe’s interruption shows that he is trying his best to set Janie apart and value her higher than the rest of the community. In spite of this, Janie does not want to be different from everyone else; she just wants to be normal and accepted. Later on, when the townspeople are talking about the mule, Janie “loved the conversation and sometimes she thought up good stories on the mule, but Joe had forbidden her to indulge. He didn’t want her talking after such trashy people” (Hurston 54). From Hurston’s choice of words, it can be seen that Janie just wants to be like everyone else; she wants to live her life freely. Joe is holding her back and keeping her away from the others in fear of her losing her good status, but Janie is not concerned; she would much rather be a part of the community. From her relationship with Joe Starks, Janie discovers that she does not need to have a good social status to be truly happy. 

From her final relationship with Tea Cake, Janie discovers that true happiness can come in many forms. Early in their relationship, when Tea Cake takes Janie fishing, “she felt like a child breaking rules. That’s what made Janie like it” (Hurston 102). Here, Janie realizes that she has been oppressed in her previous relationships into thinking that there are certain ways to live her life. For the first time, Janie is getting to experience something new and she is actually enjoying it. When Janie begins to work with Tea Cake picking beans, he asks “You don’t think Ah’m tryin’ tuh git outa takin’ keer uh yuh, do yuh, Janie, ‘cause Ah ast yuh to work long side uh me?” and she replies “Ah naw, honey. Ah laks it. It’s mo’ nicer than settin’ round dese quarters all day” (Hurston 133). From Janie’s reply, it is seen that she is finding joy in activities that are not normal to her and are not typically expected of her. She is beginning to do things that she would not have thought of if it were not for Tea Cake; she is finding new ways to be happy.  This time with Tea Cake teaches Janie that there are no guidelines to what can make her happy. 

When stuck in tough situations, Janie comes through and discovers more and more of herself. Whenever things are not going well, it is important to stay true to oneself and continue to learn. As everyone takes this journey, it is never truly complete.