Were Watching God Relationships

In Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, the story revolves around the protagonist, Janie’s, experiences in three different marriages. First, with a man named Logan Killicks who has the money and land to provide Janie with security. Then, a rich leader and pioneer named Joe Starks. And finally, with a young man who could only provide Janie with his love and best effort, Tea Cake. Although these three relationships never lasted, through each relationship Janie was able to grow. Young Janie’s first marriage was with a man named Logan Killicks. It was not Janie’s choice to marry him, but was her grandmother’s request. Janie said she would learn to love him, but never does because Logan was repulsing to Janie and he eventually put her through manual labor. Even so,

This marriage could be said to be Janie’s best. Unlike previous times, Janie had finally learned to always care for her loved one. In one particular scene, Tea Cake had left to gamble and win money for the two of them, and Janie’s behaviour during this time is explained as, “Janie waited till midnight without worrying, but after that she began to be afraid. So she got up and sat around scared and miserable. Thinking and fearing all sorts of dangers… She rather found herself angry at imaginary people who might try to criticize” (Hurston 125). Unlike with previous marriages, she actually worried about Tea Cake and would be willing to protect him. The happy feelings that Tea Cake had given Janie are told after his death. When Janie is thinking of Tea Cake, the book explains that “The kiss of his memory made pictures of love and light against the wall. Here was peace” (Hurston 193). There are multiple interpretations of this final paragraph, but one is that it explains how Tea Cake was the one who was able to give Janie the love she was looking for, and so she was able to finally find her happiness and