Janie, a character in Zora Neale Hurston's novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God", is a woman that I feel like is overshadowed by men. Although she likes being independent from others, there is a fine line between being independent and being lonely. Her loneliness overshadows her independence and forces her to rely on others such as her grandmother, Nanny, Logan Killicks (her first husband), Joe Starks (her second husband) and Tea Cakes (her current lover), because of certain female social standards that women are expected to keep to at that time. From the beginning she has no say in her choices in life. Instead of finding true love, like she hopes, young Janie is forced to marry the older Logan Killicks because Nanny told her so. Even though her grandmother did it out of her love for Janie and for her future well-being, she didn't have a choice.
However as time goes on I feel like Janie gains confidence and is presented as more out going and forward, stating her mind to her then husband Joe Starks right then and their in a shop in front of the entire town, is an example of such a change.
Her hunt for true love hasn't been accomplished yet. The folks in the town that she grew up in told her that love will come with marriage, to just give is a bit of time and to be a bit patient. However a sense of love didn't come in the three months since marrying Logan so she ran away with Joe. Janie realized that after almost 30 years of marriage she didn't love this man. At this time not much is known about Tea Cakes but I can assume that his presence will change Janie for better or worse.
I find that connection that Janie has with nature very interesting. She turns to these natural figures for support, since she herself didn't have much growing up. Her mother and father both abandoned the girl at a young age. Janie is a complex character with many unique characteristics and a certain outlook on life. Her quest for independence and true love show us her true colors.
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