In the book, Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, Janie Crawford's character changes from the beginning to the end of the novel. At first, Janie conforms to other people's wishes about what she is "supposed" to do and how she is "supposed" to act. She sees herself in terms of other people, but as she matures she becomes more of her own person despite how society and the people around her think. As she progresses through the novel, she becomes less of a conformist in terms of her thought, voice, and action. Each of the different relationships in her life including the Washburns, her Nanny, Logan Killicks, Joe Starks, and Tea Cake helps her grow and has an influence on her as she becomes increasingly more independent.
Janie is raised with white people, the Washburns, who provide a lot for her, including the expectations of society.
Zora Neale Hurston, American author. Deutsch: Zora...
Zora Neale Hurston Photographer: Carl Van Vechten....
English: Janie FrickeHer grandmother works as a nanny for some white children in the Washburn family, and Janie grows up playing with the Washburn children. She calls her grandmother "Nanny" because that is what the other kids call her. Immediately it is evident that Janie is influenced by everyone around her and has not learned to think for herself yet.
Even Janie's nickname supplies some insight into her lack of a definitive identity early in her life. People call Janie "Alphabet" (Page 9) because she goes by so many names. Because she starts with no identity, she takes on the identity of those around her. Janie does not even know that she is black until a photograph of her is taken with the other children. Until the age of six, she simply assumes she is white because that is how everyone else is and says: "Ah thought Ah wuz just...