Journal 7 & 8

Mrs. Turner’s relationship with her husband makes her feel more powerful. Mr. Turner does not seem to be too powerful or confident which was apparent in Chapter 17 during the bar fight at their restaurant where he did not step up and stop the fight or help his wife while she was on the ground after being knocked down. Mr. Turner also tells Tea Cake, when confronted by him about Mrs. Turner hanging around at his house, that his wife does anything she wants to because she is so strong headed. This causes him to take a lower role in their marriage, while Mrs. Turner makes most of the decisions in their relationship. Their relationship compared to Janie and Tea Cake’s is very different. While both Janie and Tea Cake take on very important roles in their relationship and stand up for each other and hold power within their relationship, the Turners are the complete opposite with only one person doing most of the work and holding most of the power within their relationship.

The title, Their Eyes Were Watching God, is significant because it tells us how many of the characters, such as Janie, view religion and nature. During the hurricane in Chapter 18, the characters trying to escape God’s wrath oftentimes are questioning God and looking up to Him. It shows how many of the characters rely on God and how they are never fully in control of anything. The title talks of how the characters in the book will always be looking to God for answers and to show them their next step in life as well as to show that nature and God are always in control of their lives.