Cast of characters
by alexia buchholtz
1. Janie Crawford – In “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston, Janie Crawford is the main, dynamic character. In every situation, she is the center focus. As the story progresses, Janie ends up in different situations with different men and each one teaches her a new lesson. The opening setting is back in Eatonville where Janie reflects back on her life. As the reflection on her life begins, her entire life story unfolds in each chapter and we are soon informed on the hardships of her life as well the points of overcoming.
2. Pheoby Watson – Pheoby is Janie’s friend. In the beginning of the book, Janie is sitting on her step with Pheoby. They begin to flashback on Janie’s life. The entire story is Janie telling Pheoby about her life story. She plays a key part in the book because without Pheoby sitting there with Janie, Janie would not have anyone to tell her story to.
3. Leafy Crawford – Leafy Crawford is Janie’s mother. Most characters in the book revolve around Janie. When Leafy gave birth to Janie, she became an alcoholic, began staying out late, and basically disappeared. Because of this, Nanny, her mother, took Janie under her wing and raised Janie as her own.
4. Nanny – Nanny is Janie’s grandmother. She is the one who took Janie under her wing and raised her. Nanny essentially saved Janie because her mother was an alcoholic and would not have been an ideal choice person to raise Janie. Nanny taught Janie how to act a certain way and also helped her make important decisions. Without Nanny, Janie would have never gotten married early and she would have never been in the situations that she was in, which eventually lead to her decision to seek God first.
5. Johnny Taylor – Johnny Taylor is a young teenage boy that first caught Janie’s eye as a teenager. He was Janie’s first kiss and first real guy that caused Janie to realize her need for a romantic interest.
6. Logan Killicks – Logan Killicks was an older gentleman that Nanny forced Janie to marry at a young age. Logan spoiled Janie to no end in the beginning of the marriage but she was unhappy because she did not love him or her looks and this drove her away from him, leading her into the hands of Jody Crawford.
7. Jody Starks – Jody Starks is Janie’s second husband. He is the one that, in the beginning, fulfilled Janie’s dreams and gave her all the material things she could dream of. In the end, things were flipped-turned upside down and all Janie was left with was a lesson.
8. Annie Tyler – Annie Tyler is a wealthy woman legend from Eatonville who married a man by the name of Who Flung. Who Flung ended up running off with Annie Tyler’s money, leaving her bitter and broken. When Janie speaks with Annie, she develops a cautious fear that Tea Cake could be doing the same to her and this changes the way she feels about leaving with Tea Cake.
9. Tea Cake – This was a young man, younger than Janie, who one day strolled into Janie’s shop shortly after Jody’s death. Tea Cake immediately swept Janie off of her feet and they eventually decided to “see” each other and then get married. He became Janie’s third husband and was ultimately the one who gave her peace and lead her to God.
10. Mrs. Turner – Mrs. Turner is a woman that Janie and Tea Cake meet when they move to the everglades. She prides herself on being of white descendants, even though she is half black. She brings in disruption between Janie and Tea Cake when she tries to persuade Janie to meet her brother.
2. Pheoby Watson – Pheoby is Janie’s friend. In the beginning of the book, Janie is sitting on her step with Pheoby. They begin to flashback on Janie’s life. The entire story is Janie telling Pheoby about her life story. She plays a key part in the book because without Pheoby sitting there with Janie, Janie would not have anyone to tell her story to.
3. Leafy Crawford – Leafy Crawford is Janie’s mother. Most characters in the book revolve around Janie. When Leafy gave birth to Janie, she became an alcoholic, began staying out late, and basically disappeared. Because of this, Nanny, her mother, took Janie under her wing and raised Janie as her own.
4. Nanny – Nanny is Janie’s grandmother. She is the one who took Janie under her wing and raised her. Nanny essentially saved Janie because her mother was an alcoholic and would not have been an ideal choice person to raise Janie. Nanny taught Janie how to act a certain way and also helped her make important decisions. Without Nanny, Janie would have never gotten married early and she would have never been in the situations that she was in, which eventually lead to her decision to seek God first.
5. Johnny Taylor – Johnny Taylor is a young teenage boy that first caught Janie’s eye as a teenager. He was Janie’s first kiss and first real guy that caused Janie to realize her need for a romantic interest.
6. Logan Killicks – Logan Killicks was an older gentleman that Nanny forced Janie to marry at a young age. Logan spoiled Janie to no end in the beginning of the marriage but she was unhappy because she did not love him or her looks and this drove her away from him, leading her into the hands of Jody Crawford.
7. Jody Starks – Jody Starks is Janie’s second husband. He is the one that, in the beginning, fulfilled Janie’s dreams and gave her all the material things she could dream of. In the end, things were flipped-turned upside down and all Janie was left with was a lesson.
8. Annie Tyler – Annie Tyler is a wealthy woman legend from Eatonville who married a man by the name of Who Flung. Who Flung ended up running off with Annie Tyler’s money, leaving her bitter and broken. When Janie speaks with Annie, she develops a cautious fear that Tea Cake could be doing the same to her and this changes the way she feels about leaving with Tea Cake.
9. Tea Cake – This was a young man, younger than Janie, who one day strolled into Janie’s shop shortly after Jody’s death. Tea Cake immediately swept Janie off of her feet and they eventually decided to “see” each other and then get married. He became Janie’s third husband and was ultimately the one who gave her peace and lead her to God.
10. Mrs. Turner – Mrs. Turner is a woman that Janie and Tea Cake meet when they move to the everglades. She prides herself on being of white descendants, even though she is half black. She brings in disruption between Janie and Tea Cake when she tries to persuade Janie to meet her brother.