Cast of Characters (Kristina Richart)

Cast of Characters 

By: Kristina Richart 

• Janie Mae Crawford- Janie is the main character of Their Eyes Were Watching God. The novel focuses on Janie’s quest to find her own voice and sense of independence.  Throughout the novel she thinks that marriage will give her the love and satisfaction she desires, but after marrying Logan and then Jody, she learns this is not the case. Once Janie marries Tea Cake, she finds herself happy again as he helps her to develop her identity.
• Tea Cake- Tea Cake is Janie’s third husband and the only man she’s ever truly loved. Tea Cake plays a large role in helping Janie develop. Before Janie ever met Tea Cake she had already started developing her own voice when she stood up to Jody, then when she met Jody, she became even more bold and vocal. Tea Cake allows Janie to reach the horizon she had been reaching for.
• Jody Starks- Jody is Janie’s second husband. Janie runs from her first husband to marry Jody. Jody is a man of power. He is dominating in everything he does, including in his relationship with Janie. Jody limits Janie from finding her identity, the opposite of Tea Cake.
•  Logan Killicks- Logan was Janie’s first husband. Janie married him even though she did not love him because her grandmother wanted her to, so Janie obeyed. Logan makes Janie feel alone and unloved, so she leaves him. 
• Pheoby Watson- Pheoby is Janie’s best friend. Pheoby is a caring character and is the audience as Janie tells her life story.
• Nanny Crawford- Nanny is Janie’s grandmother who raised her after her mother became an alcoholic. Nanny pushed Janie to marry quickly so she could be well cared for and respected; but this went against Janie’s wishes for independence.
• Mrs. Turner- Mrs. Turner is a restaurant owner in the everglades who is a very outspoken woman. She likes Janie because of her Caucasian features but does not get along with Tea Cake. She tries to set up Janie with her brother, creating conflict between Janie and Tea Cake.
• Motor Boat- Motor Boat is Janie and Tea Cake’s friend who survives the hurricane.
• Dr. Simmons- Dr. Simmons is a well-liked doctor who diagnoses Tea Cake and testifies for Janie in court.
• Hezekiah Potts- Hezekiah works with Janie at the store in Eatonville, and after Jody’s death he acts as Janie’s protector.
• Nunkie- Nunkie is a girl who flirts with Tea Cake making Janie jealous.
• Johnny Taylor- Johnny is the first boy Janie kisses. This concerns Nanny which leads her to arrange Janie’s marriage with Logan.