Struggle for Self-Realization in Their Eyes Were Watching GodZora Neale Hurston, the author of Their Eyes Were Watching God uses Janie's experiences to show her struggle for self-realization. Hurston's life is similar to Janie's in the way they seek love and self-actualization. During Hurston's childhood (1890s), her father paid a lot of attention to her sister and she was jealous of her; Janie also felt “unloved” by Nanny, her grandmother. When Hurston was young, his family moved to Eatonville, Florida, where his father became mayor. Her experience is comparable to that of Janie, when she moved to Eatonville with Jody, her second husband. Jody is very similar to Hurston's father, John, in that he is not affectionate towards Janie and does not allow her any freedom. Hurston's mother, Lucy, had encouraged her to continue reading and writing, despite her husband's wishes. When Zora was five years old (1896), the Supreme Court ruled that Separate But Equal was constitutional and seventy-seven lynchings occurred; which revealed that she would have to work very hard to be recognized as a writer. At eight years old, she announced that she wanted to become a poet; her mother was proud of her, but her father hated her even more because of it. In the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston shows Janie's struggle for self-realization through love through all of Janie's conquests. From her search for love from the pear tree, to Nanny, to Logan, to Jody, and to Tea Cake, Janie finds herself. The symbol of the pear tree is linked to Janie's coming of age and makes Janie want to get married and see the world. Nanny dissolved this image by making her marry Logan Killicks. Janie expected to find love through her marriage to Logan, but she discovered that marriage doesn't bring love when Logan tries to force her to work. Janie meets Jody one day on Logan's farm, and she believes he will show her the world and love, so she marries him and leaves Logan. She soon discovers that all he wants to be is a big voice, and only married her for her image. After Jody's death, Janie meets Tea Cake in her store; and, although he does not have much money, she sincerely believes that he loves her and will fulfill her lifelong quest for happiness. Tea Cake ends up being his true love, and she is happy with him no matter where they are or how rich they are..