Who is Janie?

In “Their Eyes Were Watching God “, the main character Janie is lost between two worlds and multiple identities.  She is aimlessly wandering down the path of self-discovery. Confronted with internal conflict, Janie is unceasingly questioning her true identity and that of the one she’s been wearing for so long. At this point in the novel, Janie’s personal identity has continuously been up for debate, constantly being molded and/or altered by those involved in her life. Who was the real Janie?

 From the young age of six, Janie had viewed herself as being “just like de rest” (Hurston 9), believing to be white while her outer appearance proved otherwise. She soon discovered the truth about her appearance, but continued to live her life as if nothing had changed. Her grandmother “nanny’  (Hurston 8), had worked to shape her into the perfect wife and the perfect women. Instructing Janie to marry for status, love would soon follow. Nanny striped Janie of her dreams of love, in exchange for womanhood. Janie married the perfect husband, learning that “love did not make marriage. Her first dream was dead she became a woman” (Hurston 25). The exchanging of vows striped Janie of her old self. Janie’s second marriage seemed promising yet intoxicating. Jody silenced Janie and left her opinions and thoughts to simmer on the back burner. “She sho don’t talk much” (Hurston 50). Her voice was stripped the moment her beautiful hair was tied back.

The character Janie, is both compelling yet repulsive. From her grandmother to her husbands, each character that passes through her life adds a new piece to her already confusing puzzle. Stripping a layer off from her original self. 

Janie could relate to this picture because she too is questioning who she truly is. She is unable to see her true identity, and continues to wonder who she is. The question remains afloat, who is Janie?