In Zora Neale Hurston’s seminal novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, published in 1937, the protagonist Janie Starks navigates a complex web of social, familial, and gender hierarchies that shape her journey toward self-realization. This essay explores how Janie’s evolving response to these hierarchies—ranging from reluctant acceptance to outright resistance—generates significant conflict within the narrative and contributes to a broader interpretation of the work as a critique of oppressive structures. By examining key moments in Janie’s life, particularly her marriages, this analysis will demonstrate how her struggle against societal constraints illuminates themes of autonomy and identity, reflecting Hurston’s commentary on race, gender, and power in early 20th-century African American communities.
Janie’s Initial Acceptance of Familial and Social Hierarchy
At the outset of the novel, Janie’s response to hierarchy is characterized by passive acceptance, largely influenced by her grandmother, Nanny, who imposes a rigid familial and social order. Nanny, shaped by her experiences of slavery and trauma, prioritizes security over personal fulfillment, urging Janie into a loveless marriage with Logan Killicks for economic stability. Janie’s compliance, though reluctant, reveals her initial inability to challenge the familial hierarchy that dictates her choices. This submission creates internal conflict, as her romantic ideals—symbolized by her vision of marriage as a blossoming pear tree—clash with the harsh reality of her arranged union (Hurston, 1937). This tension sets the stage for the novel’s exploration of personal agency, as Janie’s early acceptance of hierarchy stifles her voice, reflecting broader societal expectations of Black women at the time to prioritize survival over desire.
Resistance and Conflict in Marriage to Joe Starks
As Janie’s journey progresses, her response shifts toward resistance, particularly in her marriage to Joe Starks, who represents patriarchal and economic hierarchies. Joe’s ambition elevates him to mayor of Eatonville, but his need to control Janie—evident in his demands that she conceal her hair and remain silent in public—mirrors the broader suppression of women’s individuality. Initially, Janie acquiesces, yet her growing discontent culminates in subtle acts of defiance, such as her eventual public confrontation of Joe’s hypocrisy during his final illness. This resistance generates intense conflict, not only within their marriage but also within Janie herself, as she grapples with societal expectations versus personal fulfillment (Washington, 1990). Hurston uses this struggle to critique how hierarchies, particularly gender-based ones, dehumanize individuals, stripping Janie of her voice until she reclaims it through conflict.
Challenging Hierarchy with Tea Cake and Beyond
Janie’s most transformative response to hierarchy emerges in her relationship with Tea Cake, where she actively challenges societal norms of race, class, and age. Unlike her previous marriages, this bond offers a semblance of equality, though not without conflict—Tea Cake’s occasional jealousy and the external judgment of their community highlight persistent hierarchies. However, Janie’s decision to embrace this relationship, and later to defend herself by killing Tea Cake in self-defense, marks her ultimate rejection of oppressive structures. This act of agency, though tragic, underscores a critical interpretation of the novel: true liberation often demands painful conflict and sacrifice (Hemenway, 1977). Hurston thus positions Janie’s defiance as a powerful statement on the necessity of challenging hierarchy to achieve self-actualization, even at great personal cost.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Janie Starks’ evolving response to hierarchy—from acceptance to resistance and finally to challenge—drives the central conflicts in Their Eyes Were Watching God and shapes its overarching interpretation as a critique of societal constraints. Her struggles against familial, gender, and social hierarchies reveal the oppressive forces that seek to silence Black women, while her journey toward autonomy highlights the possibility of transcendence through conflict. Indeed, Hurston’s portrayal of Janie suggests that confronting hierarchy, though fraught with hardship, is essential for personal and communal growth. This analysis not only deepens understanding of Janie’s character but also underscores the novel’s enduring relevance in discussions of identity, power, and resistance in literature.
References
- Hemenway, R. E. (1977) Zora Neale Hurston: A Literary Biography. University of Illinois Press.
- Hurston, Z. N. (1937) Their Eyes Were Watching God. J.B. Lippincott & Co.
- Washington, M. H. (1990) Foreword to Their Eyes Were Watching God. Harper & Row.
