The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself," said American actor Harvey Fierstein. Thus, a person determines what his or her future may hold. In one of her best novels, a young woman author writes about a character that resembles this demeanor. The character in this novel finds her purpose in life through three different situations she encounters. In Hurston's novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie's marriages to Logan Killicks, Jody Starks, and Tea Cake are built on security, however they all were not based on love and money.

Janie's first marriage is based primarily on security. At a young age, she is forced into a relationship because of her grandmother's wishes. Her primary caretaker is dying and wants to be reassured that Janie will be out of harm's way. " 'Tain't Logan Killicks Ah wants you to have, baby, it's protection" (Hurston 15). Her nanny wants a man to protect her granddaughter from danger. She believes that love is not essential in a relationship as long as a woman feels secure. However, Janie pleads and begs with her grandmother to not force her into this horrid situation because she wants to marry a man for love and not security. She soon realizes that she will have to set her dreams aside and settle for Logan (Wall 80). The young woman becomes disappointed when she thinks about the days to come.

Although she does not love Logan now, she wonders if it will ever be possible for her to. Currently, she is not attracted to the older man, but thinks that she could learn to love him. Janie thinks that his persona might grow on her. She waits for the day to come when she can truly say she loves Logan Killicks. Once Mrs. Crawford realizes that she will never love him, she makes an important decision. Janie decides to leave Logan once and for all; she expects to have a better future with Joe Starks (Hurston 32). At this point in her life, she supposes that leaving Logan is the only way to find true pleasure. Now that he is in the past, she decides to take a chance with Jody.

The matrimony between Joe Starks and Janie is built on money as well as security. For example, the young woman leaves her first husband for a man who promises her everything. Joe promises Janie that he will treat her like a queen. She tells him how Logan forced her to do yard work, but Joe explains to her that with him, she will never have to do anything unless she wants to. The thought of living the "good life" excites Janie. Joe is a wealthy young man and sweeps her off her feet into a new atmosphere. They start a new life in a town called Eatonville. Since her husband is a prominent figure in Eatonville, he is elected mayor. She is happy to be the mayor's wife and thinks that she is in love. Jody is in charge of the whole town and advises her to stay at home while he takes care of everything else. Joe's confidence makes her feel secure.

His personality is dominant, but only in the best interest of Janie, so she believes. Janie relaxes; she is sure that Joe will support her, as her grandmother wanted. Even though she thinks she has found her true love, she is sadly mistaken. In "Reading the Fiction and Folklore of Zora Neale Hurston: Textual, Cultural, and Critical Negotiations," Hillegass expresses Janie's inability to participate in town discussions because of "the class consciousness and sexism of her husband, Joe" (31). Furthermore, she is embarrassed because he wants her to be a "trophy wife" and nothing more. Janie realizes that Jody is not the man she thought he was, and begins to feel differently when he does not allow her to have a voice. This "took the bloom off of things" (Hurston 43). The young woman envisioned a beautiful life with her second husband. Once she realizes his true intentions, her fantasy life soon fades away. He had always intended to be the only voice in their marriage. Janie refuses to be silent and will let her voice be heard. One day, she receives the chance to express her opinion and goes for it. Mr. Starks disrespects her in the town store, and Janie's feelings are hurt once again. However, this time she tells Jody how she feels. After she is finished, he is embarrassed and storms out the store.

However, the mayor’s wife is pleased because she has gained control of her life:

Janie had robbed him of his illusion of irresistible maleness that all men cherish, which was terrible. The thing that Saul's daughter had done to David. But Janie had done worse, she had cast down his empty armor before men and they had laughed, would keep on laughing. When he paraded his possessions here after, they would not consider the two together. They'd look with envy at the things and pity