Janie's Marriages in Their Eyes Were Watching God

Janie's Journey in Their Eyes Were Watching God

Janie's journey through marriage in Zora Neale Hurston's novel Their Eyes Were Watching God is all about growth and finding herself. Over her three marriages, Janie goes from being a quiet, submissive woman to someone who’s free and knows who she really is. Let’s dive into how Janie's second husband, Joe Starks, shapes her views on love, power, and independence. By checking out their relationship, we get a closer look at how Janie changes and what the novel is trying to say overall.

The Turning Point: Marrying Joe Starks

Marrying Joe Starks is a big deal for Janie. At first, she thinks it's a way to get away from her bossy grandma. But soon enough, she figures out that Joe just puts her under another kind of control. Hurston uses strong imagery and dialogue to show how power works in their marriage.

Take when Janie wants to join in on Eatonville's social life—Joe shuts her down fast, saying stuff like "Somebody got to think for women and chillun and chickens and cows." (Hurston, 39). He clearly believes that men should make decisions for women. This realization hits Janie hard and pushes her towards discovering herself.

The Empty Promises of Wealth

Janie also learns that money isn't everything with Joe Starks. As he climbs up as Eatonville's mayor, he's all about looking good to others but forgets about Janie's feelings. Sure, he's successful outside, but their marriage feels empty inside without love.

Hurston brings up the mule as a symbol of Janie’s hidden desires. When she opens up about wanting love, Joe tells her she's like a mule: "You ain't got no particular place" (Hurston, 77). It's such an uncaring comparison showing how little he cares for her needs.

The Catalyst for Freedom

But hey, marrying Joe is also what sets Janie free eventually. Living under his thumb makes her question what society expects from her and who she really wants to be. She sees the world around her in Eatonville and realizes there’s more to life than just nice things or status.

This becomes clear when she tearfully tells Pheoby, "Ah done lived Grandma's way, now Ah means tuh live mine" (Hurston, 87). She's ready to chase after her own dreams now. And when Joe dies later on? It gives Janie the chance to start anew and find herself completely.

A Step Towards Empowerment

Janie's marriage with Joe Starks is crucial for how she grows as a character. Through him, she learns why love matters and why it’s important to stand on your own two feet emotionally. Hurston shows us how these marriage dynamics work and hints at personal growth’s potential too.

By breaking away from Joe's grasp finally lets Janie start becoming an empowered woman who knows what she wants—and goes for it!

The Big Picture: Love and Self-Discovery

Janie’s journey through marriage in Their Eyes Were Watching God dives deep into love’s complexities along with power struggles—and finding yourself among them all! Exploring her second marriage offers insights into bigger themes within this novel about individual freedom plus identity pursuit.

• Baker Jr., Houston A., "Modernism and the Harlem Renaissance," University of Chicago Press.
• Davis, Charles T., “Zora Neale Hurston,” University of Illinois Press.
• Lester, Neal A., "Understanding Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God," Greenwood Publishing Group.
• Sherman-Palladino & Bros., “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” WGBH Educational Foundation.
• SparkNotes Editors (2003), “SparkNote on Their Eyes Were Watching God.” SparkNotes LLC.