Disillusionment and Marriage
Janie as the main character of the story takes her
first steps into womanhood in the novel when she marries Logan Killicks. The
act itself presents considerable development for the plot of the story because
Janie undergoes character growth. Her initiation and transitioning from girl to
woman is characterized by the “Hero’s Journey” archetype; this is simply known as monomyth. However, Janie often wonders
before her marriage is arranged by Nanny if she could realistically love Logan.
Hurston makes it explicitly clear to the reader in the beginning of Chapter 3
that Janie is unsure, still naive as a young black female in a world that “…[made] a spit cup outa [them]” (Hurston
20). Janie was curious as well as nervous to get ready earlier on because she
needed to know if marriage did “compel love like the sun the day” (Hurston 21).
She soon would learn in the less-than-full year the answer to her question.
Janie quickly realizes that marriage was (and in many cases still is) not all that great. She experienced repeated, prolonged and painful disappointment in the near year she lives with Logan on his land. Janie goes into the marriage expecting the famed and mythical substance of ‘love’ to kick in and take over their lives, but sadly it never does. Janie often criticizes her new husband Mr. Killicks for forcing her to chop wood, no longer smiling at her, never “talking in rhymes” (Hurston 26), having mule-like toenails and overall disliking his presence very much. Janie complains to Nanny, who tells her to deal with it since it was the best she could offer before she died. It is then and only then that Janie finally realizes “marriage did not make love” (Hurston 25), and it was a lie all along.
Janie quickly realizes that marriage was (and in many cases still is) not all that great. She experienced repeated, prolonged and painful disappointment in the near year she lives with Logan on his land. Janie goes into the marriage expecting the famed and mythical substance of ‘love’ to kick in and take over their lives, but sadly it never does. Janie often criticizes her new husband Mr. Killicks for forcing her to chop wood, no longer smiling at her, never “talking in rhymes” (Hurston 26), having mule-like toenails and overall disliking his presence very much. Janie complains to Nanny, who tells her to deal with it since it was the best she could offer before she died. It is then and only then that Janie finally realizes “marriage did not make love” (Hurston 25), and it was a lie all along.
Bringin' On The Heartbreak - Def Leppard
This is a Youtube link to a hit 1980s pop rock/glam metal song by a popular band at the time: Def Leppard. This song is relevant to Janie's experience in realizing she is trapped in a loveless marriage because the speaker in the song deals with a painful love exchange with a past lover of his which is commonly known to be the result of unrequited love or "heartbreak"
I don't think Janie's experience with Logan was exactly what you would call a heartbreak only because she didn't love him. I think it was more so a disappointment to her because she wanted to love him and be loved in return because that's what marriage is supposed to be like. Her grandmother just wanted her to be secure and didn't want her to end up like her mother so for her to be married meant a lot to her. Her grandmother was more concerned with the title of being wife then how Janie felt being Logan's wife.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Janie's first marriage posed as a disappointment to her. Janie, being forced into her first love by Nanny, experienced marriage for the first time, and most likely, as with any "first", assumed that this was all there was to marriage. I also liked that you related a song; for almost every idea in life, there is likely at least one song that relates.
ReplyDeleteJanie's first marriage was not what she expected at all, and you make that very clear in your post! Although, the only reason she did get married was because of her grandmother. Nanny did not want Janie to end up like Leafy (Janie's mother), so she forced Janie to marry. In the end, Janie's first marriage was a huge disappointment. Janie was upset at the fact that the man she married did not love her back. She loved him expecting something in return but he showed little to no love at all. That's where the disappointment is generated.
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