Janie And Tea Cake example essay topic

Janie Crawford was a woman who was searching for herself, for her individuality, and at the same time struggling to be heard in a society where no one would listen. In the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston explores the life of thie young woman illustrating the struggles Janie faces during each of her marriages as well as the things that she accomplished in each. Janie grew up living with her grandmother, who because of her experiences with slavery, has rather antiquated ideals. As a result Janies grandmother pressures her into a young marra ige wih Logan Hillocks, a man whom she believes will provide Janie with the proper security and social status.

Logan, a very pragmatic and unromantic man, does not fulfill Janies expectations for there marriage and she does not understand why she has to be with him when she knows that she doesn't love him. Unsatisfied with her marriage to Logan, Janie runs away to an all black community called Eatonville with a man by the name of Joe Starks. Joe, being a very ambitious man, soon becomes the mayor of Eatonville and makes Janie the town storekeeper. Although he gives her the authority in the so tre, Joe stifles Janie by making her wear her gorgeous hair up in a bun, and keeping her form interacting with the people of the town. After putting up with Joe's restrictions for almost 20 years, Janie finally asserts herself and tells him that she is sick of the way he is making her live her life. After this point, their marriage suffers until Joe passes away and Janie finally feels like she has regained her freedom.

Shortly after Joe's death, Janie becomes involved with Tea Cake, a man who is twelve years younger than Janie, and quite the town gossip. After spending time with Tea Cake, Janie realizes that he is a man that she truely loves, and he is a man that will grant her the freedom that she longs for. Tea Cake and Janie later move to the Everglades and become the center of the social community, something that Janie has always wanted. Janie and Tea Cake share a wonderful marriage, and they promise to always share their experiences and opinions with each other. A terrible hurricane soon hits the town that JAnie and Tea Cake live in, and as they are trying to fle the rains waters, Tea Cake gets bit by a rabid dog. Going off on a bout of madness caused by his sickness, Tea Cake is convinced that Janie is cheating on him and he threatens to kill her.

With no other choice, Janie kills Tea Cake to save herself. Soon ater his death, Janie returns to Eatonville feeling at peace with Tea Cake as well as with herself.