Essay 2- Their Eyes Were Watching God

Zora Neal Hurston’s romance novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God follows the journey of Janie Mae Crawford in her search for true love.

Janie’s journey to find true love leads her through multiple marriages with happy, sad, and emotionless times in each. Her journey starts at the age of 17 when Janie’s grandmother marries her out to the middle-aged Logan Killicks who owns 60-acres of land. Janie is forced to stay at home and do field work all day. She does not love him and quickly leaves the marriage to run off with Jody Starks. She soon marries Mr. Starks, but after twenty years of routine life she realizes she does not love him. He dies after twenty years of a loveless marriage. One year after his death she meets Tea Cake. For the first time in her life she is experiencing the joy and excitement of true love.

Changes began to occur in Janie as she went from marriage to marriage. At first she was rebellious but still obeyed, but by the time the second marriage was settled she was obedient to her husband at all times. When Tea Cake came around she was filled with excitement and love that came through mutual respect. In her search she becomes independent and content with being alone after Tea Cake died. Her search is over; she has experienced the greatness of true love.

The love Janie searches for throughout the book is not one gained through marriage and based on obedience. The love she longed for was based on mutual respect and trust that can only be gained through a deep connection between two people.

Love transpires when it is least expected to appear. The search for love can be short or long, but at some point in life, good timing or bad timing, love comes knocking on everyone’s door.

Grade: 8