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Their Eyes Were Watching God Theme Essay

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When Janie was a teenager, she used to sit under a tree and dream of being a blooming tree. She longs for love and to be loved. Throughout the story we join as the the reality of love blinds Janie’s idealistic dreams. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie is immersed in three marriages. The author explains how Janie learns some valuable lessons about marriage, love, and happiness from her marriages to Logan Killicks, Joe Starks, and Tea Cake.

In the beginning of her story, Nanny believes Janie is a woman now. She thinks this because she sees Janie kissing Johnny Taylor, who she thinks isn't capable of taking care of Janie. She then goes on to explain to Janie that there is someone that wants to marry her, Logan Killicks. Janie protests, saying that he's mule-looking and old, but she eventually accepts her fate, taking Nanny’s advice that she will fall in love with him after they get married. After some time, though, Janie realizes that she is not falling in love with Logan and what Nanny said isn't true. One day when Logan tells Janie to work while he goes to the town to buy a mule, she sees a good looking man and talks to him. …show more content…
He says that he's saved up some money to come move to Florida in a new “colored” town, Eatonville. Janie is attracted to his high ambitions. He offers to take her with him and she eventually decides to go with him. When they get to the town, it isn't what they expected but they help to make it better. He becomes the mayor and they get married. After some time, the love slowly dissipates and Joe becomes more concerned with power, control, and his reputation. Years later, Joe is old and sick. After all those years of silently submitting to Joe, she finally gathers enough courage to say that he never let her express her true emotions. He tells her to stop but she continues, accusing him of dictatorship and being selfish. Joe then dies and Janie announces his death to the

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