Their Eyes Were Watching God Conflict Analysis

11. The conflicts in Their Eyes Were Watching God fall under the ‘character vs character’ and ‘character vs self’ categories. Character vs character conflicts occur between Janie and Logan Killicks, and Janie and Joe Starks; the conflicts with both men were of the same nature – arguments and dissatisfaction with Janie’s behavior. Character vs self occurs during Janie’s marriage to Logan. Janie wants to obey her grandmother, but she also wants to marry for love. On page 25, Hurston writes “[Janie] knew now that marriage did not make love…[her] first dream was dead…” This quote shows the resolution of Janie’s emotional battle with herself. The struggle between good and evil in the main conflict is obscure rather than immediately perceptible – second example of character vs self, the main conflict is Janie struggling to find her identity amongst numerous people who want to control her life instead of letting her do so herself.

12. The plot of Their Eyes Were Watching God does have unity. The major events in the storyline [Janie’s marriages to Logan, Joe, and Tea

The book utilizes both situational and verbal ironies. A prime example of situational irony is on page 167, soon after Tea Cake is bitten by the rabid dog. He says to Janie, “Ain’t got de damn doctor tuh study ‘bout.” Although Tea Cake dismisses the thought of a doctor with concerns for Janie’s comfort, situational irony comes into play when he becomes so mentally sick he tries to kill Janie, when he likely would have recovered completely had he seen Janie’s concern as legitimate and received professional medical care. Verbal irony is present in the book as well; for example, on page 2, the crowded porch sends a communal “good evenin’” Janie’s direction. However, on page 3, Lulu Moss says Janie “ain’t even worth talkin’ after”, revealing that the porch was utilizing verbal irony. The ironies in the book serve to enrich and further develop the plot and language used to convey the novel’s