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Literary analysis: Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston

southern culture. She does not believe in love. She values material things and security above any kind of emotional bond. She condemns Janie for her lack of desire for Logan and the possessions that he provides. "If you don't want him, you sho oughta. Heah you is wid de onliest organ in town, amongst colored folks, in yo' parlor. Got a house bought and paid for and sixty acres uh land on de big road . . . Lawd have mussy" (Hurston, 23)!

Janie's marriage to Logan becomes an ever-increasing chore. Logan does not appreciate her for who she is; he only appreciates her looks and her ability to work. The longer they are married the more chores Janie becomes responsible for. The marriage is a loveless one, to Janie's dismay. She realized that she could never be happy with Logan. She would never be a blooming pear tree with him. "The familiar people and things had failed her . . . She knew now that marriage did not make love. Janie's first dream was dead, so she became a woman" (Hurston, 25). This realization is her second step toward awakening. Her girlish idealism of making a loving relationship with Logan is destroyed, and so she no longer deludes herself into hoping that the marriage will become more intimate. This knowledge creates personal growth and self-awareness. Janie becomes acutely aware of her own desires for love, and realizes that her dreams can only be fulfilled through her own pursuit of them.

With this new determination, she leaves Logan Killicks for Joe Starks. Joe is a man of vision. He has goals of becoming a leading member of an all black community named Etonville. He is determined, motivated, and successful. He claims to want to treat Janie like royalty. "A pretty baby doll like you is made to sit on the front porch and rock and fan yo'self . . ." (Hurston, 29) However, Janie was hesitant about leaving with Joe because he did not entirely share her dreams. He was a man who wanted promote change and take chances. " . . . he spoke for far horizon" (Hurston, 29). She trusted him though, and he promised to marry her and treat her well, so she left Logan and moved to Etonville with Joe. She was a stronger woman than she had been when she married Logan. She was maturing, and more determined than ever to live her dreams of love. "From now on until death she was going to have flower dust and springtime sprinkled over everything. A bee for her bloom. Her old thoughts were going to come in handy now, but new words would have to be made and said to fit


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Literary analysis: Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston

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