Janie's Character in Their Eyes Were Watching God Essay

For most teenagers, the purpose of high school is blending into the crowd and becoming just another face; to become excepted no matter what their inward conscience may be shrieking. In the small town of Eatonville, Fl the pattern continues. Each person has their role to play from the store manager to the porch-gossipers. Janie, in Their Eyes Were Watching God cast herself as the dutiful wife of the mayor. This major role cost her freedom and happiness. As the town folk stare at God, Janie stops staring long enough to follow her heart. The tension between Janies public and private life is a tug-a-war game that ends with Janie finally pursuing her love.

When Janie first met Jody she was intrigued by his dream of being a big voice in the small community of Eatonville. She was proud when he was elected mayor, bought a store, and virtually established the town. Yet the love fades quickly as Janie becomes more of a symbol of status for Jody, than a wife. Janie slips into the background, dominated by her husband who is all too used to his power as mayor. Janie is restricted from talking on the porch, making a speech, and attending the infamous mule funeral. Jody does not even allow her to wear her hair down. Janies only purpose is running the store and providing food for the lamp lighting ceremony. Janie feels the disdain for Jody as she becomes more unsettled in the store. Every hour she labors is another win for Jody. Her public and private life becomes like oil and water in an effort to appease Jodys image. Janies image. Janies happiness wanes as the need to be a servant to Jodys position swallows her life.

After Jodys death Janie does not immediately break free from the dried cocoon of her past marriage. Like a butterfly she slowly emerges as someone new and independent. She no longer cares about the towns gossip as illustrated by her relationship with Tea Cake. She begins her life over in the new surroundings of the muck, with her new husband, and a newfound freedom. She has the intent to live to please herself and do as she wishes, such as hosting parties at the muck, not as a subservient symbol.

The title Their Eyes Were Watching God shows the contrast between Janie and the other characters in the novel. It could mean that the book is about racial and personal independence and not following what others tell you your future holds, but instead following God. Janie seems to do just that. She rejects other peoples ideas of what she should want in life. Most of the black characters notions of what they should desire seem born out of slavery. Nanny in particular, who was a former slave, envisioned that the best possible life was to live like a wealthy white woman with nice material belongings and plenty of leisure time. Janie, however, goes after what she wants in life: love. Janie has eyes watching God, rather than watching other people.

Janie transforms from a spritely young woman with dreams of her own, to Jodys living public status. She suffers internally while she pastes a smile on to complete their facade of happiness. Only after Jodys death and the loving but equal treatment by Tea Cake can Janie grasp her independence. She breaks her role as mourning widow to find love while the faceless bystanders continue to stare at God for the answer. She returns after the death of Tea Cake content with her life, while the porch-talkers still gossip.