Please enable JavaScript.

Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.

Their Eyes Were Watching God Zora Neale Hurston, Love - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Hurston however does challenge these stereotypes as Janie finds her voice and power as a black woman who is viewed very low in society.
    - - “So many were against her that a light slap from each one of them would have beat her to death.” (212).
- - - - The novel focuses on Janie’s development as a black woman and her journey to discovering herself.
      - She is a strong woman who defines gender roles. This is seen through her clothes as she finds who she wants to be. She is judged by members of her community but is happy in herself. “What she doin’ coming back here in dem overalls? Can’t she find no dress to put on?” (2) She remains quiet and does not retaliate, showing she has found peace within herself and has control over her own voice.
      - Janie is a kind and caring woman who tries to love those around her, however these people are not always loving to her. She has three marriages in the novel and only in her last one does she find true love and happiness, however this is taken from her as she has to kill Tea cake out of mercy.
      - She had a difficult upbringing and was not raised around a love family. Her mother was raped by a white school teacher and as soon as Janie was born left, leaving her to be raised by her grandmother.
        
        She is set up for a tough life from birth, however she is determined to create happiness for herself and an identity which is her own.
      - She tries to keep a positive attitude and understands that there are good and bad elements of life. “Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone” (10).
        
        Janie also has great empathy for the people around her and even though they hurt her she understands that they are this way because of the negative thing that they have dealt with in their lives.
        
        She mentions how she hates and loves Nanny as she has caused her a lot of pain and had great influence over her life. However she says, “she had been set in the market-place to sell. Been set for still-bait.” (102). She is angry at her however she recognises that it is not her fault, she has faced great suffering in her life and has not been afforded freedom as a former slave, therefore turning her into a cynic towards the world.
    - - Raises Janie and wants her to have a good stable life as a wife.
      - Raised in slavery and has children born into slavery. Suffered greatly throughout her life as a black woman and was raped by her white slave master.
      - Wants Janie to have a better life than her. “ Ah was born back due in slavery so it wasn’t for me to fulfill my dreams of whut a woman oughta be and to do…But nothing can’t stop you from within’”(19).
        
        She encourages Janie to marriage Logan because she believes it will give her a good chance in life and she will be stable financially. Therefore being able to live a normal life.
        
        Although Nanny wants what’s best for Janie, Janie believes she is restricting her from being who she wants to be and is not allowing her the freedom to fulfill her own life. She later understands Nanny’s reasoning behind her behaviour.
      - She is Janie’s only family and is there to comfort her when she is upset, however does also present her with hard truths.
  - - - Tea Cake is Janie’s third husband who she truely loves and is able to be herself around. It is through there relationship that she finally is able to find her voice and feel fulfilled.
      - He is 12 years younger than Janie and is energetic bubbly and fun. He brings out the best in Janie and she is able to laugh and have excitement for her life.
      - He is not a perfect character by any means, he hits her at points in the novel, however this is viewed as protective and loving towards Janie.
      - Their ending is heartbreaking as Janie has no choice but to shoot Tea cake after her catches rabies from a dog bite and becomes uncontrollable. “Tea cake was gone. Something else was looking out of his face” (207) This highlights the fact Janie has no choice but to shoot him as the real Tea cake was already gone.
      - Tea cake shows Jeanie that she is worthy of true love and that she deserves to be happy. He supports her and accepts her as her true authentic self, allowing her voice to come out.
        
        “Janie looked down on him and felt a self-crushing love. So her soul crawled out from its hiding place.” (146). This quote illlustrates the strong connection they have and how their love allows Janie to become her true self.
    - - Logan is Janie’s first husband. She is only 16 when they marry and she does not want to be married, she does not love him but believes love will come with marriage
      - Janie hates Logan and it is evident from the way she speaks of him to Nanny. “ ah hates de way his head is so long one way and so fall on de sides” (17) She is deeply unhappy with Logan and shows this by making trivial comments about him.
      - He is financially well off and treats Janie at first, however as time goes on he stops being kind to her and treats her as someone to help with his farm work. “You done been spoilt rotten” (30).
        
        After this change Janie is sick of this lifestyle and leaves him for Jody. In hopes of a loving relationship .
    - - Jody is Janie’s second husband who she runs off with after she leaves Logan.
      - Similarly to her first marriage, Janie realises this man is limiting her and is not allowing her to reach her full potential in life. When Jody passes away she is upset however sees this as a chance for a new beginning and a chance to live her life freely as she pleases.
      - He is a wealthy and powerful businessman and treats Janie very well at the beginning of their relationship. “ didn’t make speeches or rhymes to her, but he bought her the best things he butcher had.” (39).
      - Janie is restricted but their relationship as he objectifies her and is more interested in their image that Janie’s feelings or the relationship.