Their Eyes Were Watching God

In the story Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston expresses both the values and consequences of true love. Janie Crawford played the main character, Janie experienced three unique marriages, Janie's first two marriages were not as affectionate as her third marriage to tea cake. Was janie's marriage to tea cake really the image of a pear tree love that janie always yearned for? I truly believe that Janie's marriage to tea cake was the unconditional love she was in search for.

Janie's first marriage was to Logan Killicks, Janie was forced into to marriage by grandma. Grandma wanted Janie to be well taken care of and protected before she died. Janie was disgusted of Logan. Janie's marriage to Logan destroyed her romantic concept of love.

"By forcing Janie into the role of the mule, Logan shattered Janie's imaginary identification: he desecrates the pear tree, Janie's ideal of love and marriage." Logan dominated Janie by forcing her to labor. He didn't like for Janie to just sit around, if he was out working in the field he wanted her right by his side working as well. Janie's experience with Logan later taught her that marriage will never make love.

Janie's second marriage was to Joseph Starks was very nice in the beginning, but as time passed joe started to treat Janie as an object. After the two fled to Eatonville, Joe was elected mayor of the town everyone looked up to him. Joe always expected Janie to be dressed a certain, speak a certain tone or don't speak at all. Joe stressed control, "Joe was a man of possession and position."(McGowan) Joe felt that Janie's place was in the home. Joe did not allow Janie to voice her opinion what so ever even if she was being spoken to.