In Zora Neale Hurston's book "Their Eyes Were Watching God," Janie's growing experience is evaluated. As she grew, she became more of her own person. I believe her life is finally fulfilled at the end of this novel. However, getting to that point was no easy task. She went through a series of tough tests and road bumps. Those steps were: escaping from nanny, the Killicks marriage, the Starks marriage, and the Tea Cake marriage.
When Janie was growing up she lived with her Grandmother, or "nanny." Nanny truly cared about Janie and she wanted the best for her, but she didn't really care about what Janie wanted. She actually forces Janie into her first marriage with Logan Killicks. Janie wasn't in love with this man at all, but he was wealthy and he put a solid roof over her head. That is why nanny wanted Janie to marry him. It was a time where love didn't matter. This was especially true if you were poorer in nature. But in a certain sense, it was as if nanny wanted Janie to marry a rich man for her own benefit. On page 13 nanny sums it up nicely, "So you don't want to marry off decent like, do yuh? You just wants to hug and kiss and feel around with the first one man and then another, huh? You wants to make me suck de same sorrow yo" mamma did, eh? Mah ole head ain't gray enough. Mah back ain't bowed enough to suit yuh!" Because of her attitude, nanny actually restricted Janie from growing. She even got Janie to marry the wealthy Logan Killicks.
Logan Killicks was Janie's first husband. She married him for financial support. If he wasn't rich she wouldn't have bothered. However, it was nanny who forced Janie into this marriage. Logan wasn't a very good guy. He would always be bossing Janie around. And to add to that fact, he had an abundant body odor. The first year of their marriage he peppered her with gifts, but then he started cracking down. Eventually, he wanted Janie to work in the fields for him.