Illustration of the profile of Janine Crawford and another person facing each other

Their Eyes Were Watching God

by Zora Neale Hurston

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Student Question

Who are the "cracked plates" in "Their Eyes Were Watching God" and who resists damage?

Quick answer:

In "Their Eyes Were Watching God," Janie is metaphorically a "cracked plate" due to her unfulfilling marriages. Her first marriage to Logan Killicks shatters her ideal of love, and her second husband, Joe Starks, further damages her spirit through abuse. Though her third marriage to Tea Cake starts with love, it also involves physical violence. Ultimately, Janie resists permanent damage by embracing the complexities of love and finding personal fulfillment.

Expert Answers

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Janie herself could be considered “a cracked plate.”  Her first marriage to Logan Killicks did nothing to support her dream of the perfect marriage.  Janie had been under the impression that marriage was about love, and when she realizes that Logan does not love her, her dream is shattered, making her “a cracked plate.”  Similarly, her second marriage to Joe Starks is also unrewarding, and he hits her frequently, continuing the cracking of her inner spirit.  Janie’s third marriage to Tea Cake begins on terms of love, but later Tea Cake feels threatened by Janie’s beauty and others’ reactions to her, so he hits Janie to reassure himself of his possession of her.  However, Janie is ultimately able to mend herself near the end of the novel when she acknowledges the many faces of love and realizes the satisfaction that this brings.

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