A Bittersweet End

Jody Starks finally dies after an abusive and oppressive 20 year marriage to Janie. He experiences kidney failure in his 50s, and gains much weight in his belly which “sagged like a road suspended from his loins” (Hurston 77). Excessive pride and arrogance eventually costs him his chance at getting treatment when he refused the assistance of “…de doctor—‘(Hurston 88) which could have saved him before it was too late. His whole life he spent worshiping his own deeds and the shallow veil of his “irresistible maleness” (Hurston 79). So many men in Janie’s era were determined to even “break or kill” (Hurston 75) their wives when this prideful mask of male dominance was questioned, and as a result where warped in their views of themselves. Sadly, Joe was no different and Janie knew his time would come soon.

Janie went to Jody to confront him one last time in their long, disappointing, and insufferable marriage. She tells him how it’s “too late” (Hurston 85-86) for him to do anything about his imminent death, and that he needed to know “what kinda person Ah [Janie] is” (Hurston 85). Joe in his unwavering pride refuses to give her satisfaction even in his final moments alive, but now has no choice as he can’t move or repress Janie. Janie tells him that “nothin’ don’t change you” (Hurston 86) because of his stubbornness and was “too busy listening tuh yo’ own big voice.” (Hurston 87) because these are the things that have always bothered Janie most. In her little speech to Jody before he dies, she tells him that things could have been better if he was just “satisfied” (Hurston 86) with Janie and respect her as well as other people’s thoughts and feelings.

             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClQcUyhoxTg

(Don't Fear) The Reaper - Blue Öyster Cult (1976)

This is a psychedelic rock song by American rock band Blue Oyster Cult. The song deals with the themes of eternal love and the inevitability of death. This song is incredibly appropriate for this post because it perfectly describes Jody's death in the book. Noticeably towards the end of Joe's talk with Janie, the phenomenon of death takes on the personification of a metaphorical grim reaper - or Death the person. The subject in the song is being taken by Death too from his lover. The repetition of the main guitar riff, eerie melody of the cowbells, rhythm of the beat and harrowing whisper of the lyrics are what make this song a perfect example to represent what Jody's death was like.