Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zola Neale Hurston

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Love is different for each and every person. For some, it comes easy and happens early in life. For others, such as Janie Mae Crawford, in Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, it happened much later in life. Oddly, after two failed marriages. Janie sought love in several different men and marriages, hoping to find true love; however, she was often left with abuse, hardship, and a broken-heart. As stated by Hoffman “Well, I think everyone struggles with self-love.” Amour Propre¹ Love for one’s parents is honorable, love for one’s child is unconditional, but self-love is often denied. Loving ourselves isn’t a one-time event. It’s an endless, moment by moment ongoing process. It wasn’t until Janie found self-love that she discovered confidence, peace, and fulfillment. Her finding of self-love helped her understand freedom and self-worth. Janie was with a variety of men throughout her life but she only allowed three of them to wed her. She faced many negative opinions, judgments, and misfortune; however, she was still capable of moving forward despite it all. Janie was born into a world in which her looks made it easy for her, but also was her downfall. Many guys looked at Janie as just a beautiful woman—no more. None of them could connect with her on an intellectual level or valued what she really had to offer, except Tea Cake. Janie’s lack of maternal and paternal relationships with her parents left her seeking to be loved. Although, Nanny Crawford, Janie’s grandmother, did her best to raise her; Janie still had emptiness in her heart. Janie showed her disregard for her own happiness when she agreed to an arranged marriage to Logan Killicks, set-up by the grandmother. Nanny Crawford felt that love was... ... middle of paper ... ...-love is the basis of all love.” says Traherne (2014). You cannot properly love anyone before first loving yourself because self-love is true love. Works Cited Exclusive Screenings of my Sister’s Keeper. (2009, Jun 21). Sunday Times. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.saintleo.edu/docview/316527038?accountid=4870 Hurston, Zora Neale. Their eyes were watching God: a novel. New York: Perennial Library, 1937. Print. "Philip Seymour Hoffman." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2014. 28 April 2014. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/p/philipseym470665.html Saying Goodbye To Someone You Love : Your Emotional Journey Through End Of Life And Grief. New York: DemosHealth, 2010. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 25 Feb. 2014 "Thomas Traherne." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2014. 28 April 2014. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomastrah153849.html

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