Janie Crawford

Their Eyes Were Watching God provides an enlightening look at the journey of a "complete, complex, undiminished human being", Janie Crawford. Her story, based on self-exploration, self-empowerment, and self-liberation, details her loss and attainment of her innocence and freedom as she constantly learns and grows from her experiences with gender issues, racism, and life. The story centers around an important theme; that personal discoveries and life experiences help a person find themselves. Nanny was determined …

…fish net. Pulled it from around the waist of the world and draped it over her shoulder. So much of life in its meshes! She called in her soul to come and see". Her story is of a beautiful black women who found out about life. Her love became real and her horizon became her own as the novel progressed. Focused on self-revelation and self-formation, Janie survives with her soul (made from continual struggle) intact.