In Zora Neal Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God the main character, Janie, experiences a series of awakenings that help her to find her inner self. Janie changes from an oblivious young African American to a Confident and Experienced women, however it takes any mistakes and failures for Janie to finally discover who she is.
Janie doesn't discover that she is black until she is several years old, and it happens when she sees herself in a picture and realizes that she looks different from all of her white friends. Janie grew up not knowing what it was like to be a part of a family, or how a husband was supposed to act or be like. Because Janie is raised by her grandmother, she never met her mother or father, Janie is sheltered from several things and events in life that are part of growing up. For example, Janie's first kiss, which happens by a pear tree that Janie enjoys spending time under, happens with a boy named Johny Taylor, unfortunately the whole situation is spoiled when Janie is caught by her grandmother "On a late afternoon Nanny had called her to come inside the house because she had spied Janie letting Johny Taylor kiss her over the gatehouse", and in an attempt to look out for Janie, Nanny marries her off to a wealthy farmer named Logan Killicks. Janie's limited awareness" is due mainly from her upbringing, which is somewhat strict and rash at times. Janie's increase in awareness can be associated with the pear tree she spends so much time under, because it is here that she concepts the idea of love, which she wont come to understand for some time, and also where she has her second awakening, the first was of course when she discovers the difference in her skin color and that of her friends when looking at the picture. Janie protested to marrying Logan Killicks, but Nanny is persistent and the wedding takes place despite the lack of agreement with the bride. Janie's main concern is that she doesn't love Logan, and was under the impression that marriages were based on love; however her belief is changed when Nanny tells her that love will come in time and that it isn't always needed.
