Secondary Characters' effects on Janie
             Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, is a classic novel depicting the struggle of a young African-American woman throughout her life. Hurston portrays Janie, the main character of the novel, as a confused woman trying to find love in her life. In her search of love and happiness, Janie journeys through three husbands, two of which she finds little joy but rather grief and anguish. In her quest for gratification, the people around her and the people she meets along the way affect Janie. The secondary characters in the novel like Janie's grandmother, Logan Killicks, Joe Starks, and Tea Cake influence Janie's thoughts on the world and control her happiness as well as sorrow.
             Nanny is the first person that sets off Janie's adventure and affects her life. Nanny, Janie's grandmother, is a former slave who works for a white family; she becomes the mother figure for Janie. Throughout Nanny's life, she has worked very hard and tiresome to barely achieve a somewhat decent life. Nanny sets low, limited hopes for Janie and wants Janie to marry Logan Killicks for protection and wealth rather than love. Janie has no feelings for Killicks, but Nanny says, " Tain't Logan Killicks Ah wants you to have, baby, it's protection." (15) Nanny leads off the direction in which Janie must lead her life.
             Logan Killicks becomes Janie's first husband. Logan offers protection and wealth, and insures that Janie will not have a troublesome lifestyle. Logan is much older than Janie and treats her like a worker. He makes Janie work hard chores at home and does nothing himself. Logan expects food on the table everyday as well as clean dishes and laundry. Logan tells Janie, "If Ah kin haul de wood heah and chop it fuh yuh, look lak you oughta be able tuh tote it inside. Mah fust wife never bothered me 'bout choppin' no wood nohow. She&...