Their Eyes Were Watching God

            Janie, all her life, had been pushed around and told what to do and how to live her life. She searched to find a peace that made her whole and made her feel like a complete person. To make her feel like she is in fact an individual and that she was not like everyone else. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie battles to find individualism within herself.
             During the time of "Their Eyes", the correct way to treat women was to show them who was in charge and who was inferior. Men were looked to as the superior being, the one who women were supposed to look up to and serve. This was especially true for black women such as Janie. Throughout this book, it looks as though Janie makes many mistakes in trying to find who she really is, and achieving the respect that she deserves. Living with her Grandmother and theWashburns", Janie was surrounded and raised with white children. She always believed that she was white herself, and that she was no different than anybody else. As she was growing up, she was told what to do and how to live by her grandmother. Janie's grandmother planned her life out for her. She told her that she must get married right away. "Yeah, Janie, youse got yo" womanhood on yuh. So Ah mout ez well tell yuh whut Ah been savin" up for uh spell. Ah wants to see you married right away." Janie's grandmother did want what was best for Janie, but she basically told her what to do instead of letting her know what she wanted for her. Janie's grandmother told her exactly who she was going to marry and who she wasn't even to think about. "Whut Ah seen just now is plenty for me, honey, Ah don't want no trashy negro, no breath-and-britches, lak Johnny Taylor usin" yo" body to wipe his foots on. Brother Logan Killicks, he's a good man.You answer me when Ah speak. Don't you set dere poutin" wid me after all Ah done went through for you!" She is basically telling Janie that she can't marry Johnny Taylor, the one she is exploring her womanhood with, the one she wants, and that she must marry Logan, for protection.