Their Eyes Were Watching God Character Analysis

Unlike her previous husbands, Tea Cake does not stifle Janie’s potential, but instead allows Janie to comfortably express herself due to the “possibilities opened up by [their] relationship,” as evidenced by Professor Tejumola Olaniyan’s criticism of the novel. (Olaniyan 34). Not only is Janie free to behave in whichever way she desires, she is also confronted by a man who genuinely loves her. Moreover, Janie feels a “self-crushing love” with Tea Cake, that makes her feel content enough that “her soul [crawls] out from its hiding place” (Hurston 128). By finally allowing her soul out into the open, Janie unlocks her inner strength,

Tea Cake is Janie’s prince in shining armor. He is her fairytale ending, at least for now. Tea Cake is the embodiment of true love. True love is expressed through respect, trust, and honesty. Tea Cake not only does these things, but he also bases his happiness off of Janie’s happiness, believes that Janie’s age is just a number, and eventually envelops Janie into his world. Tea Cake loves Janie so much that whenever she is happy, he is happy. This normally only occurs in cases of true love, because you need to be practically selfless in order to base your happiness solely on someone else's. When Tea Cake comes back to the store a second time to see Janie, he started humming and mimicking playing a guitar. He did not enter the building, but

Throughout parts of the novel, Teacake emotionally and physically beats Janie down to reassure himself and to ensure ownership over her. For example, “Before the week was over he had whipped Janie…Being able to whip her reassured him in possession...He just slapped her around to show he was boss” (Hurston 147). In order to cover his own insecurities, Teacake manifests his worries into physically aggression. He is overcome with jealousy, and treats Janie as his individual property in order to keep her around. However, Teacake loves Janie and only scourges her since he is solely afraid of losing the woman he loves most. In fact, he pampers and commiserates with her much after the incident to express his condolences. Regardless, Janie is completely understanding of Teacake’s hostility and feels not one ounce of anger since she loves every aspect of him. Ultimately, the two contain such strong and deep affections for one another that they are willing to overcome any difficulties and inspire each other to be the best version of

Tea Cake performs the old courtship rituals, indulges in shooting and razor fighting, and plays the dozens and the blues. Compared with Killicks and Starks, former husbands of Janie, Tea Cake prefers interaction and people to ‘things’: “So us goin’ off somewhere and start all in Tea Cake’s way. Dis ain’t no business proposition, and no race after property and titles. Dis is uh love game” (134). In this pastoral setting, Janie regains her voice to tell narratives. Janie feels free to join the notorious ‘lying’ and tale-telling sessions whenever she wants to: “She got so, she could tell big stories herself from listening to the rest” (158). Yet, even with Tea Cake, she has to face intermittent crises and physical aggression. S. Jay Walker has

This is not because she did anything wrong, but rather because a neighbor’s brother showed interest in her. Tea Cake was not, truly, free of the misogynistic stereotypes of women, and the event showed deep down the possessiveness he felt for her. “Before the week was over he had whipped Janie. Not because her behavior justified his jealousy, but it relieved that awful fear inside him. Being able to whip her reassured him in possession” (147). Again, Janie is in a marriage where her husband thinks of her as a property. Tea Cake’s character brought much hope for a lifestyle in which Janie could be independent and powerful, participate in conversation and checkers, and be respected on an equal level. Ultimately, Tea Cake was still possessive, and in many ways was not in fact free of the suppressing beliefs of society as a whole. His character is evident of how deep rooted the beliefs were. Tea Cake passed away, but Janie carried on, returned to Eatonville, once again showcasing her

Some can seem good, but actually be very horrible people and some can seem bad, but actually just have a few flaws in their lives. Tea Cake falls under the latter. When Tea Cake was bitten by the rabid dog, he starts to become very ill. He starts going crazy and Janie begins to get scared of him. One night, Tea Cake awakes and threatens Janie with a pistol. Janie had kept a shotgun loaded just in case. Tea Cake starts to shoot, but Janie has turned the revolver to the blank shots. Janie tries to talk him down, but she has to defend herself and shoot Tea Cake. She is charged with murder, and then later proved innocent. Overall, Tea Cake is the best man for Janie because he was a selfless person with her, he loves her with all his heart, and he works hard to provide for her. He treats her the best a man could and also provides an amazing life for her. Tea Cake is just an ordinary man that tries his best to be the best man, and overall, the best husband in the

Tea Cake is Janie’s third husband, and like her previous marriages, he demonstrates a supporting role. The difference between Tea Cake and her other husbands is that Logan and Joe never supported her personal desires, and did not bring her the love and protection she had always sought. While Janie thought Tea Cake took off with her money and just spent it, he told her not to worry about it. As he said deliberately, “Ah told yo’ before dat you got de keys tuh de kingdom. You can depend on dat” (121). The message that Tea Cake is giving, is that he supports Janie and that she is an equal in their marriage, this is the difference between Tea Cake and Janie’s previous husbands. Alongside Tea Cake being a nourishing and kind husband to Janie, he is also a protector, and further on in their marriage, Janie fell into powerful, flowing stream of water during a hurricane in the Everglades. She grabbed hold of a cow for support and there, standing ferociously, was a rabid dog on the cow’s back. The dog was about to attack Janie until Tea Cake, ”split the water like an otter, opening his knife as he dived” (166). This statement provides the proper textual evidence to prove Tea Cake’s sense of protection over Janie. Furthermore, his main goal in their marriage is to not only provide, but to protect. This thoroughly describes Tea Cakes personality and the qualities he has in marriage, and the difference

Tea Cake, the third man, gives Janie the affection she wants in a relationship. The couple is depicted deeply in love through kissing and dancing scenes in the film. However, Tea Cake is not the perfect man. He steals her money and leaves for a whole day. The actress portraying Janie shows the betrayal and disappointment that she must have felt at this point in the relationship. The scene is performed as if the audience can almost see the horrible possible situations running through her mind. The novel shows many cases where the behavior of Tea Cake hurt her. At one point a woman named Nunkie and Tea Cake flirt continuously and "Janie learned what it felt like to be

Janie’s relationship with Logan, her first husband, is seen as unacceptable to her due to his old age and the fact that Janie did not have any say in the marriage. Due to Janie’s opposition to being with Logan, he “seem(s) violent without actually committing violence”. Hurston uses Tea Cake’s youth and the fact that Janie was not forced into a relationship with him to make Tea Cake appear to be a ‘better’ person than Logan. However, Tea Cake is the one who actually whipped Janie. Tea Cake commits many violent acts, but because of his attractiveness, Tea Cake is excused “even when he executes violence” (Harris, 92). Tea Cake had shown signs of abuse and had a gambling addiction, whereas Logan was verbally cruel to Janie, but never physically hurt her. Hurston emphasizes the faults of society through Tea Cake and his effect on Janie. Tea Cake is the cruelest of Janie’s husbands, but the way he is presented makes it seem as if he is the best of them. Tea Cake, representing society, initially encourages Janie to be strong, then molds her into an object of his pleasing. In Janie’s mind, Tea Cake is perfect and cannot make mistakes, even after he whipped her. Mrs. Turner, who lives in the Everglades, believes that Tea Cake is too colored for Janie and that she needs to be with a lighter skinned man, like her brother. She pushes her brother

Tea Cake is a well-developed character in Their Eyes Were Watching God, and he appears to be the best out of the 3 love interests Janie has, although both Hurston’s novel and Native Son show the oppressive nature of many men including Tea Cake. According to Yvonne Mesa-El Ashmawi in his article titled “Janie's Tea Cake: Sinner, Saint, or Merely Mortal?”, while it could be argued that Tea Cake is irresponsible (such as when he gambled on Janie’s money and partied all night with the winnings) and he chose to live on the Muck which one scholar Ashmawi quoted called a “labor camp”, he is better for Janie than her other husbands were because he teaches her how to do things that are commonly regarded as men’s activities, including playing checkers, fishing, and shooting and he embraces her

In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Tea Cake proves to be affectionate but reckless. Together these traits create a flawed character. Janie has already developed an increasing proud sense of self, but Tea Cake furthers her spiritual growth and fulfillment. Instead of stifling her voice he supports it, allowing her to be herself in a relationship, opening her eyes to new experiences and life skills. Tea Cake’s character and personality cause Janie to learn things about herself she never knew in her marriages to Logan nor Joe. As said in the novel, “So the very next morning Janie got ready to pick beans along with Tea Cake. There was a suppressed murmur when she picked up a basket and went to work... But all day long the romping and playing they carried on behind the boss’s back made her popular right away. It got the whole field to playing off and on. Then Tea Cake would help get supper afterwards” (Hurston 157). This proves that Tea Cake is affectionate by giving Janie the choice/option of working beside him, he doesn't instruct her to do so, showing that he really cares about her overall happiness. This is something different for Janie because throughout her previous marriages she is made to do things. This gives Janie a sense of equality and independence.

After a great flood caused Janie and Tea Cake to evacuate Eatonville, Tea cake was bitten by a rabid dog and became stricken with rabies. He had a psychotic episode and Janie

Tea cake gives her the feelings of young and free. At the point, when Janie initially meets Tea Cake, she finds herself glowing inside because he requests that her play checkers with him. Tea Cake is a glaring contrast to Joe Starks, who never let her play men's diversions, do men's work, or try anything new that he saw to not be right for a woman. Janie starts to fortune Tea Cake's organization because he regards her as an equal, and needs for her to attempt new things, for example, fishing and shooting. The town, then again, opposes the relationship for many reasons.

When Janie first hears his name, she says, "Tea Cake! So you sweet as all dat? " The answer is yes, he is sweet. Tea Cake values Janie’s personality and company, which is why he wants to be near her and have her work beside him. Tea Cake also feels a strong duty and obligation toward his wife such as to provide for her material things, protect her from dangers, etc.

Tea Cake was first mentioned in the first chapter of the book. With a name like his, he was implied to be very sweet, and, considering that Janie had married him with fond memories, he was bound to be a good character despite his mysterious disappearance. Once he formally appears in the story, the predictions seemed to hold true. A polite, handsome young man with a cheery smile and much talk of labor, he rubs off as very well-meaning and self-made. Considering he also got on the wrong train to the baseball game, he obviously did not mean to stop by the store, so he had no initial intention with Janie. However, what mainly netted good impression was how Tea Cake recognized Janie’s smartness and skill from just meeting her, and assumes that