Their Eyes Were Watching God Each individual faces obstacles and limitations specific to their circumstances, and how those obstacles are faced and overcome ultimately determines their fulfillment and happiness that that person is capable of acquiring. Perhaps one of the most influential, yet commonly overlooked, influences on a person's development is the attitudes of others, in addition to one's own attitude. While a kind, strong, responsible and motivated attitude can enable a person to lead a fulfilling life, the positivity of others is just as effective. Whether despite an individual's perseverance and optimism or in conjunction with both, the attitudes of others have the ability to influence one's life in significant ways. The attitudes of others can potentially strengthen a positive attitude, but, conversely, they can also seriously hinder it. In Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, there are countless examples of the effects that the attitudes of others have on protagonist Janie Crawford and her journey to find herself. While some characters, such as Janie's best friend Pheoby and her third husband Tea Cake, help Janie on her path to personal fulfillment, many characters, such as her nanny and her fellow townspeople, serve as obstacles on her path to happiness. The impositions they place on Janie limit her progress toward personal fulfillment and happiness unlike any other limitations imposed on her. From the beginning of Janie's life story, it is evident that her grandmother and caretaker, the nanny, is extremely influential in Janie's development and growth as a child into a young woman. At age sixteen, Nanny chooses to marry Janie off to an older man named Logan Killicks for... middle of paper... character flaws that stand in the way of Janie's progress as an individual, but for many of them, their poor attitude towards Janie stems from racist ideals, sexist beliefs, and undertones of jealousy and division related to class issues. Through the implementation of judgments as a product of these ideals, Janie is denied the simple right to happiness. The exclusion of such a rudimentary aspect for an individual is much more harmful than any other issue. Since this exclusion of happiness comes from the attitudes of others, it is understandable that the effect is harmful, considering that the negative attitudes of others include so many other limitations. In conclusion, the main obstacle to Janie's pursuit of happiness is the attitudes of others, thus making them the most severe limitation imposed on Janie in their eyes they looked at God.