In Zora Neale Hurston’s novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie Crawford is about 16 years old at the beginning of the story. This is when she meets and begins to develop her first romantic relationship with Johnny Taylor. As the novel progresses through various stages of her life, the age of Janie is depicted at different points, ultimately showing her growth and development as a woman.
The narrative unfolds over several years, and though Janie’s exact age in her later relationships isn’t always specified, her experiences reflect her maturing perspective on love and independence. The story explores her journey from a young girl to a self-assured woman, signifying not just her physical age, but her emotional and spiritual growth as well.