The importance of talking can be seen throughout Hurston's
Their Eyes Were Watching God. The best example can be seen in a
comparison of the three men in Janie's life. Her first husband, Logan, does not have
much to say to Janie. He silently treats her like a rather fragile princess for awhile;
later he begins to disrespect her and basically orders her to do manual labor. Janie
leaves, at least in part, because Logan is such a poor communicator. Conversely, Janie
leaves with Jody (Joe) Starks because he is a smooth talker. He "sweet-talks" her into
running away with him. Soon, though, Joe does not stop talking. He talks
for Janie, treating her as a second-class citizen; and he
continually boasts about his own worth, which eventually alienates him from his wife.
Finally, Tea Cake finds Janie and speaks words of love which are like balm to Janie's
wounded soul. After they leave together, Tea Cake is able to talk his way out of several
questionable incidents, mollifying Janie with words.
Each
of these men keeps or loses Janie based, at least in part, on how he speaks to
her.
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