Their Eyes Were Watching God is an interesting book. To me it is the story of a woman named Janie who is a born survivor. Although her life is a constant struggle against poverty, racism, and sexism

Logan later says he is going to town to get another mule so she can work the fields with him. While he is gone she meets Joe (Jody) Starks. He tells her a pretty woman's place is on the porch, fanning herself, not behind a plow. "You behind a plow! You ain't got no mo' business wid uh plow than uh hog is got wid uh holiday! You ain't got no business cuttin' up no seed p'taters neither. A pretty doll-baby lak you is made to sit on de front porch and rock an fan yo'self and eat p'taters dat other folks plant just special for you." Janie sees him as someone who appreciates her as a woman. Logan ties down her dreams and she wants more than the security he offers. When he tells her to help him move a pile of manure, she again stands up to him saying, "You don't need mah help out dere, Logan. Youse in yo

' place and Ah'm in mine." Clearly, she is resisting his effort to rule her.

Logan threatens her and Janie leaves with Jody. He showers her with presents and makes her feel like a queen. He is driven by his ambition for money and power. His wife is not to be outshone by any other woman. Jody bosses Janie more and more as his power grows. She works in the store he owns and he criticizes her mistakes publicly. When he says that somebody has to think for women because they can't think for themselves, Janie speaks her own mind. On the porch when Jody and some men are joking about women she says "Sometimes God gits familiar wid us womenfolks too and talks His inside business. He told me how surprised He was 'bout y'all is goin tuh be if you ever find out you don't know half as much 'bout us as you think you do. It's so easy to make yo'self out God Almighty when you ain't got nothin' tuh strain against but women and chickens."

Jody's criticism becomes worse as he becomes older. Finally Janie retaliates by shaming him in front of his friends. He never forgives her. As he is dying she tells him, "All dis bowin' down, all dis obedience under yo' voice-dat ain't whut Ah rushed off down de road tuh find out about you." Janie hated that she had hurt Jody but she had to defend herself. She is a survivor.

Janie has money now and lots of admirers. She meets Tea Cake and finally knows what love is all about. She ignores the criticism that he is younger and after her money. Janie lives her dream with Tea Cake until he dies. He is bitten by a mad dog and became mad himself. In his madness he tries to shoot Janie and Janie kills him in self-defense. She is a survivor.

Janie returns home and hears gossip about her life. "Ah know all dem sitters-and talkers gointuh worry they guts into fiddle strings till dey find out whut we been talkin' 'bout. Dat's all right, Phoeby, tell'em." Janie explains to Pheoby that you can't listen to that kind of talk. She says there are two things everyone has to do for themselves. "...They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin fuh themselves."

That's essential self-centeredness...that's Janie's survival.