Character Analysis: Their Eyes Were Watching God

In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie is repressed because she is a colored woman. She is looked down on from the eyes of the men in her life, especially her husbands. At the same time, she must deal with racism because she is a black woman. Her Nanny’s view of race also affects Janie’s life. Janie’s gender had a bigger impact on her life than the fact that she is black. Janie’s gender had a great impact on her from a young age. Her Nanny expected her to get married as soon as possible. She did not believe that Janie could make a life for herself alone. Nanny thought she needed the protection and stability of a man. For this reason, she set up Janie’s marriage with Logan Killicks even though Janie does not want to marry him. Nanny tells

Joe treats her disrespectfully and represses her constantly. Part of the reason he does this is to show his dominance and power in the town. This is shown when she stands up for herself and embarrasses Jody in front of the town. The book explains, “Janie had robbed him of his illusion of irresistible maleness that all men cherish, which was terrible” (79). Jody’s repression was most common in the form of verbal abuse. Janie had to take on the burden of this abuse almost daily. Verbal abuse was not the only problem though. Jody beat Janie physically several times. Men often beat their wives at this time and this was considered normal in her town. One man in the town talking about a greedy woman even says, “Ah’d break her or kill her. Makin’ uh fool outa me in front of everybody” (75). Janie wanted to participate in the activities that everyone else goes to, but is often restricted by her husband. He doesn’t allow her to go to the mule’s funeral or talk on the porch with the townspeople. He makes her choices for her. Jody once says, “Somebody got to think for women and chillum and chickens and cows. I god, they sho don’t think none theirselves” (71). The men that Janie associates with have little respect for women as people, they are thought of as