Their Eyes Were Watching God Theme

1423 Words6 Pages
Power of Love One might be familiar with the socially popular phrase money can’t buy happiness. This corresponds to the fact that money can’t buy love either which is portrayed all throughout the book “Their Eyes Were Watching God”. The story revolves around an African American lady named Janie that is raised buy her grandmother named nanny. The book describes three marriages between her husband, Logan Killicks, Joe Starks, and Tea cake. The characters that Janie involves herself with all have the same focuses and determination of power and wealth which leads to the deterioration of their relationships and why the relationship with Tea Cake is so promising. Janie and Tea lack the infatuated necessitate for supremacy and riches. The dominance…show more content…
Joe Starks is initially a sweet talking gentleman, but even in the first days of meeting Janie it is apparent that he finds money to be a necessity in life. “On the train the next day, Joe didn’t make many speeches with rhymes to her, but he bought her the best things the butcher had, like apples and a glass lantern full of candies. (page 34). Joe Starks already transforms from his sweet talking gentleman’s first impression into another individual who spoils Janie by money and wealth. Joe Starks would be compared as a Lord in the town he settled in. For example, “Take for instance the new house of his. It had two stories with porches, with banisters and such things. The rest of the town looked like servant’s quarters surrounding the “big house”. And different from everybody else in the town he put off moving until it had been painted, in and out. And look at the way he painted it- gloaty white” (page 47). Joe Starks knew the long haired beauty Janie was a beautiful women and he needed he and used her in order to gain respect from others in the new town he set out to conquer. Janie was set up for a trap and before the death of Joe she confronts him about it. Janie says, “Yeah, Jody, don’t keer whut dat multiplied cockroach told yuh tuh git ‘yo money, you got tuh die, and yuh cant live”(page 86). Janie herself realizes…show more content…
During Janie and Tea Cake’s first encounter Tea Cake makes the statement that, “Ah don’t need no pocket-full uh money to ride de train lak uh women. When Ah takes uh notion Ah rides anyhow- money or no money”. (page 97). Janie is caught by surprise and a new side of Janie is revealed. Even friends of Janie refer to Tea Cake as “Dat long-legged Tea Cake ain’t got doodly squat. He ain’t got no business makin’ hissef familiar wid nobody lak you.”(page 103). This is the first man that truly does not have numerous possessions and can simply offer her true love. The man that Janie has for eternity been searching for has finally come into her life. Tea Cake is a man that puts Janie’s feelings and emotions far beyond his desire for riches. Tea Cake offers Janie to play checkers and go late night fishing with him. Janie has never played checkers before but they still constantly enjoy themselves by making jokes and having a good time. Despite Janie’s acquaintances telling her that Tea Cake is not the right man, Janie strongly disagrees. “So us is goin’ off somewhere and start all over in Tea Cakes way. Dis ain’t no business proposition, and no race after property and titles. Dis is uh love game. Ah done lived Grandma’s way, now Ah mean tuh live mine”. (page 114). This statement clearly proves that Janie is tired of being controlled by wealth and money
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