Joe Starks - Righteous King OR Shady Tyrant?

It is becoming clear by this point in the novel that Janie’s new husband – Joe Starks, is a gifted black man. Joe consistently proves as the stranger who traveled into Eatonville to the natives that he has the formal education and learning to back up ambitious planning and entrepreneurial skills. Thusly, they name him “de Mayor uh Maitland” (Hurston 36) because he’s the only one who has the common sense, vision and wherewithal to actually make Eatonville a better place. He was the envy of every man in town, especially because the jewel of their eyes – Janie, was his wife. They wished they could be and act like “rich men” (Hurston 51) like him. Indeed, Joe Starks was the man to be in the small town of Eatonville, and to his adoring people, initially was the fair and just ruler of the town.

Pictured here is serial pimp/part-time comedian Katt Williams who talks alot about dumb people

However, both the reader and townspeople quickly learn of Joe’s sneaky deceit and true intentions. Joe is often found to be greedy, manipulative and controlling. This is especially true in the case of Janie, who originally was his dream woman before the couple had left for the town, but now had turned into nothing more than his “woman” whose place was in “de home.” (Hurston 43). Starks is often jealous of the men who look at and lust over his wife. Therefore, he vowed that her hair was “NOT going to show in the store” (Hurston 55) just because of his petty insecurities. Joe relishes in his complete control over everyone in the town because no one had the “temerity to challenge him” (Hurston 50), and they all “bowed down to him” (p. 50). He shows the extent of his wicked character when he taunts Matt Bonner for his mule, and refers to the townspeople as “puny”.

If you look closely, you can see Katt Williams now dismissing a woman in his job as a pimp