(Post was accidentally posted late)
Jody's death evokes an overall liberation
for Janie: a freedom from male-supremacy and a freedom of speech. Though Janie
mourns, she begins to speak more freely and frequently. "'Tain't dat Ah
worries over Joe's death Pheoby. Ah jus' loves dis freedom," (Hurtson 93),
she confesses. In Eatonville, she must play the role of a grieving widow in
order to conform to tradition, but discreetly finds happiness in her loss.
Although Tea Cake is another man interested in her, he possesses qualities not yet displayed by her past lovers, and is a breath of fresh air for Janie. Her past is consumed by materialistic demands and social status between Nanny’s idea of an arranged marriage and Jody’s aspirations as the mayor. Yet, Tea Cake looks past the tangible wealth and values creativity and leisurely activity. He explains how he’ll get home: “Wait round heah fuh a car. If none don’t come, Ah got good shoe leather,” (Hurtson 97). He truly enjoys life without being equipped with the latest luxuries. Janie shares the same quality and is impressed by his remark. When Tea Cake asks her, “How about playin’ you some checkers? You looks hard tuh beat,” (Hurtson 95) he views Janie as his equal.
Although Tea Cake is another man interested in her, he possesses qualities not yet displayed by her past lovers, and is a breath of fresh air for Janie. Her past is consumed by materialistic demands and social status between Nanny’s idea of an arranged marriage and Jody’s aspirations as the mayor. Yet, Tea Cake looks past the tangible wealth and values creativity and leisurely activity. He explains how he’ll get home: “Wait round heah fuh a car. If none don’t come, Ah got good shoe leather,” (Hurtson 97). He truly enjoys life without being equipped with the latest luxuries. Janie shares the same quality and is impressed by his remark. When Tea Cake asks her, “How about playin’ you some checkers? You looks hard tuh beat,” (Hurtson 95) he views Janie as his equal.
The stark
difference is apparent in every part of her past. While Jody would force Janie
to remain silent, Tea Cake initiates her in conversation. Jody doesn’t let
Janie use her emotions while Tea Cake jokes around to get her to chuckle. Jody
is demanding on Janie’s duties as his wife, while Tea Cake willingly helps her close
up shop.
Janie’s new
beginning will establish a refreshing theme of equality and love based on
mutual respect.
Kaitlin you're spot on. After Jody's death Janie finally finds happiness, she finds her voice. The chains that had once held her back, confining her to her husband and his own voice, had finally fallen. Janie's response to her husbands death was an uncommon response, but for her own situation it makes sense. Jody was controlling and Janie no longer wanted to be controlled. The death of her husband brought the rebirth of the new Janie. Janie was free, she was liberated. Her voice was heard and she was going to keep it that way.
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with you! Janie definitely releases her voice once Jody dies, but she even does it before his death also! It is almost as if the fact that she was gaining power over him by voicing her opinion had killed him. Tea Cake however, didn't depend on that sort of power to thrive, so he continues to encourage Janie to speak. Tea Cake's emotional appeal was all Janie truly needed (instead of a sense of power, for Janie has enough confidence already!), and thats why her past two marriages haven't worked out.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your post. I loved this part of the reading as we finally see Janie let her hair down for the first time since she met Jody. Janie was trapped and now she is free to be herself and to be happy. The death of a spouse is usually a time of darkness yet for Janie it is a time of light and positivity. The reader is able to see the growth in character as Janie now knows how powerful her voice truly is.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your post. The introduction of Tea Cake as a new love interest for Janie poses as a new chapter of her life. It is not until Jody's death that she is enabled to express her true feelings toward their love, and once again we notice traces of nonconformity in Janie; despite that she is obligated by "social norms" to act as the grieving widow, she ultimately finds a form of peace of the mind in his death.
ReplyDelete