Exploring Relationships in Hurston's and Chopin's Works

In Zora Hurston's work Their Eyes Were Watching God, the main character, Janie experiences three different relationships. Her first marriage was a result of her grandmother's belief that she needed security, in the form of a husband. The marriage was devoid of love, and though her husband treated her well, Janie became unhappy. She runs off with an ambitious younger man. This time the marriage, initially filled with love, is quickly overshadowed by her husband domineering attitude. After her husband dies, Janie again runs off with a man younger than herself, who offers her nothing but himself. Their marriage is one filled with love and respect. In Kate Chopin's book, The Awakening, the main character Edna Pontellier is a young wife and mother

The role assigned to women by society is that of a homemaker. Women were expected to get married early, have children, take care of the home, cook, clean, be seen not heard. Both characters fall into that role because they've been taught that it's what's best for them. Janies marriage to Jody, starts off promising, but turns sour when Jody insists on isolating her, saying “A pretty doll-baby lak you is made to sit on de front porch and rock and fan yo’self and eat p’taters dat other folks plant just special for you." (4) He makes her cover her hair (her pride) out of jealousy and possessiveness, and insists that she should be happy with her position as the mayor's wife saying "Ah told you in de very first beginnin’ dat Ah aimed tuh be uh big voice. You oughta be glad, ‘cause dat makes uh big woman outa you." (5) His fear of losing Janie drives her away from him. In The Awakening, Edna Pontellier life seems enviable. She is married to a wealthy man, and has two children. She, dissatisfied, begins to rebel, first against her husband, then against society's expectations of how a married woman should act. “ She would, through habit, have yielded to his desire; not with any sense of submission or obedience to his compelling wishes, but unthinkingly, as we walk, move, sit, stand, go through the daily treadmill of the life which has been portioned out to us.” She awakens from a daze and realizes that there is more to life than being under someone elses authority. “she had resolved never again to belong to another than herself.” Both women were trapped in unhappy picture- perfect marriages that others were envious of and both sought to pursue their happiness even though it went against society's