ipl-logo

Their Eyes Were Watching God Identity Analysis

746 Words3 Pages

Identity is composed of not only self-perception but also the perception of others. Consequently, relationships are vital in the forming and expressing of one’s identity. Healthy relationships allow for the expression of oneself without fear of consequences, whereas unhealthy relationships put pressure on one to change for one’s partner. Zora Neale Hurston’s novel Their Eyes Were Watching God explores the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships, focusing on how each affects the expression of one’s identity. Her novel’s exploration of relationships and their relation to identity reveals that one’s identity can only emerge from healthy, loving relationships. Hurston portrays this exploration through the unhealthy relationships …show more content…

As a matter of fact, Tea Cake empowers Janie and allows her to make her own decisions. This quote takes place during a conversation in which Janie reveals her plans to marry Tea Cake. With this in mind, it is significant because it demonstrates how Janie has finally broken free of the control of others and is now making decisions for herself. She isn’t chasing after wealth, as her grandmother desired, but love, what her heart desires. Notably, she is initiating a relationship with Tea Cake of her own volition. Clearly, then, this is because Tea Cake has helped empower her to do such things. She is no longer scared to express herself. Additionally, Tea Cake treats Janie with respect and as an equal. Tea Cake plays a game of checkers with Janie in this quote. Markedly, Tea Cake treats men and women relatively equally, believing they both have the right and intelligence to play the same games. He participates in the same activities as her, implying that she is just as capable and deserving of engaging in these activities as he is. In other words, he treats her as his equal. This moment is further representative of how Tea Cake is receptive to her desires and feelings. Others would disregard or put down her feelings, but with Tea Cake, they are accepted. She can express her identity with Tea Cake without

Show More
Related

  • Their Eyes Were Watching God Analysis

    1657 Words  | 7 Pages

    Hurston tells the story of Janie, a black woman who because of her grandmother experiences and beliefs was forced to marry into a loveless marriage with Logan Killicks, a hard-working farmer who had 60 acres of land and could provide for Janie. This marriage ended when Janie ran away with Joe Stark, a man that she fell in love with and thought could give her the love absent between her and Logan. But Janie soon realized that her second marriage wouldn’t turn out better than her first. Joe was just as controlling and degrading as Logan. He hardly expressed his love for Janie and spoke to her like an incompetent child.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis: Their Eyes Were Watching God

    1262 Words  | 6 Pages

    Hurston’s metaphors help the reader to understand the great deal of oppression that the handkerchief symbolizes. The author’s metaphors such as “girl was gone”, “woman had taken her place”, and “the glory was there” emphasize that Janie is able to reveal her true beauty in overcoming her struggles. The author implies that by Janie uncovering her hair, she is revealing the constant shadow that has prevented her from her self-examination and in finding her true identity. The author’s metaphors are used to help the reader understand that the moment for an individual to overcome a struggle is profoundly beautiful and

    Read More

  • Their Eyes Were Watching God Thesis

    1367 Words  | 6 Pages

    Throughout her story she meets new people and resides in many places, thus shaping and changing who she is. In her novel, Hurston uses characterization to illustrate the theme of how one’s trust of what

    Read More

  • The Eyes Are Watching God Character Analysis Essay

    1660 Words  | 7 Pages

    Next, Janie continues on her determined journey for love when she goes off to marry Tea Cake. In the quote,

    Read More

  • Their Eyes Were Watching God Essay

    697 Words  | 3 Pages

    Porch. A covered shelter projecting in front of the entrance of a building. This inanimate object served to develop various themes throughout the book, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. She reveals the theme of jealousy and envy, gender inequality and a sense of community with the help of the porch.

    Read More

  • Colorism In Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God

    1012 Words  | 5 Pages

    She questions why Janie would marry a dark man like Tea Cake. Mrs. Turner falsely assumes, like the rest of the people form the town, that Janie only married Tea Cake for his money because she could not possibly love him. Janie informs Mrs. Turner that her assumption is incorrect because Tea Cake was not wealthy when they met, and he is the only person that has made her truly

    Read More

  • Theme Of Death In Their Eyes Were Watching God

    1819 Words  | 8 Pages

    The love Tea Cake gives and accepts from her allows for her once divided selves that sought affection become unified, blossoming within her a passion that shines for her

    Read More

  • Their Eyes Were Watching God Harlem Renaissance

    713 Words  | 3 Pages

    When tea cake shows up janie 's feels something she has never felt before, she is set free but the townspeople don 't think so. “‘Ain’t you skeered he’s jes after yo’ money him bein’ younger than you?’” (Hurston pg.133)Janie is in love with Tea Cake because he loves her for her youthful young side that was forced into hiding for so long because of her previous husbands. However the rest of the community is discouraging her and trying to keep her in the image as a mayor 's wife. They told Janie that Tea Cake was after her money

    Read More

  • Their Eyes Were Watching God Relationships

    543 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the beginning Janie feels as if Tea Cake’s age would effect their relationship. She has strong feelings for him, but on the other hand people are saying he will run off with her money. Janie proves them wrong and runs off and gets married to Tea Cake. He makes Janie feel wanted, she feels like she could be herself. Janie states, "We been tuhgether round two years.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Janie's Relationship With Tea Cake In Their Eyes Were Watching God

    779 Words  | 4 Pages

    For example, just like Jody, Tea Cake also physically abuses Janie to display his authority over her. What makes Janie 's relationship with Tea Cake different from her other relationships is that it is based on a love that runs much deeper than her motivation in staying in her other relationships. Janie married Logan in search of love. She married Jody in search of wealth and his ambition. When both of these relationships failed, she entered into her relationship with Tea Cake with low expectations.

    Read More

  • Describe The Relationship Between Janie And Janie's Relationship

    976 Words  | 4 Pages

    1. Unlike Janie’s previous husbands, Tea Cake treats Janie with compassion and respect. In addition, he loves Janie for her personality instead of her looks and her role as a woman (housewife). 2. The speech characteristic that Tea Cake encourages Janie with is truth.

    Read More

  • Janie's Inward Struggle In 'Their Eyes Were Watching God'?

    660 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, the protagonist Janie, is influenced by others to change her ideals. Hurston vividly portrays Janie’s outward struggle while emphasising her inward struggle by expressing Janie’s thoughts and emotions. In Kate Chopin’s The Awakening the protagonist is concisely characterized as having “that outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions,” as Janie does. Janie conforms outwardly to her life but questions inwardly to her marriages with Logan Killicks, her first husband, and Joe Starks, her second husband; Janie also questions her grandmother's influence on what love and marriage is.

    Read More

  • Janie's Three Marriages

    801 Words  | 4 Pages

    She meets Tea Cake, falls in love, and later marries him. This marriage is by far the most special and unique marriage Janie has had. Her relationship with Tea Cake is her first true love; which consists of affection, happiness, understanding and everything else that follows. This marriage makes Janie feel like she has a second chance in life to relive her youth. Janie has lots of fun and is truly blessed and happy with Tea Cake.

    Read More

  • Their Eyes Were Watching God Individualism

    1428 Words  | 6 Pages

    Toni Morrison’s A Mercy portrays a young slave, Florens, struggles with her past as well as her life as a slave. Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God shows a woman, Janie, who struggles through various relationships in her life, but in the end, they help her find her freedom and individualism. Both stories have different story lines, but upon a closer look, it is easy to see that Florens and Janie have common factors in their lives; which includes, both characters are isolated by others, both characters want to love someone, both character’s guardians make decisions for them that they do not understand which causes conflict, and finally, both characters commit difficult actions which ends up changing their lives.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Their Eyes Were Watching God

    978 Words  | 4 Pages

    Thus it is still possible to see Tea Cake as having a degree of control over Janie until the moment of his death. In each of her relationships, we watch Janie lose parts of herself under the forces of male domination. The men are not the only characters who see the traditional take on gender relations, where the men are dominant, and the women are obedient, as necessary and

    Read More

More about Their Eyes Were Watching God Identity Analysis

Open Document