Since the start of the novel, public opinion has been a major issue for Janie. After Janie returns home, the porch-sitters polluted the air with their judgmental comments. As we flashback to before her home-coming, the opinions of others remains an ongoing problem. While Jody was still alive, the majority of their marriage was based on his control. He was deeply affected by public opinion and demanded his wife look and act a certain way. Months after Jody’s death, Janie faced the public’s opinions once again. Her new relationship with a younger man, Tea Cake, wasn’t “ideal” for the community. When waiting around for Tea Cake to return to her shop, she was “afraid” (100) to ask Hezekiah about him because “he might misunderstand her and think she was interested” (100). Even though her feelings for him are clear, she feels she must suppress them to keep the town satisfied. She also feels hesitant to be with him due to their age difference. She tells Tea Cake the years “makes uh whole heap uh difference wid most folks,” (105) implying she is concerned with what others might think of them if they were together.
Although Janie deals with the public’s opinions and views her entire life, Tea Cake begins to eliminate her fears. He tells her she should satisfy herself before anyone else, which she has never done. Tea Cake is successful in getting Janie to reveal her true self to the world. She tells her friend Pheoby, “Ah done lived Grandma’s way, now Ah means tuh live mine” (114).
I think that Tea Cake also helps to eliminate her fears by moving to the Everglades. It is a new place where no one knew who she was and couldn't judge her; this place was her chance at a clean slate. I agree that she has always worried about other opinions rather than forming her own, but the Everglades and Tea Cake is helping her come formulate her own opinions.
ReplyDeletePublic opinion has alot to do with the way characters behave in the story, and this is because they live in such a tight-nit community. I think that Tea Cake is a positive influence on Janie because he shows her that it's possible for her to just live her life and be herself. Janie actually needs Tea Cake alot more than Tea Cake wants or needs her, and this is because he encourages her to be content based on her own thoughts and feelings.
ReplyDeleteI 100% agree with you, Janie does in fact worry about the opinions of those around her. Since page one Janie has focused on how to make herself look better for the public "pleasure". These bystanders hold judgement that causes Janie to fear being her true self. She worries that if the real Janie comes out the image of her would change. Her doubts, her fears, and her daily activities are altered by these "porch sitters", in hopes that they'll be happy with her, Janie is constantly trying to appease these individuals and satisfy their image of her. She focuses on how people view her rather than how she views herself. Between her three lovers Tea Cakes is the only one who has never tried to make Janie conform to the publics opinion. Tea Cakes helps Janie to learn how to ignore the publics opinions and the judgemental stares.
ReplyDeletePublic opinion can shape a character's opinion of both themselves and of those around them. In the beginning of the story, we wonder why Janie has a sort of "force field" around her that causes others opinions to "bounce off". As the plot unfolds, we see that a combination of her relationships with different individuals (not just men) has caused her to shed that layer of sensitivity, with Tea Cake being the final step in that process. I think that Tea Cake has done her a great deal of justice in that regard.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you, Janie's views on different ideas( relationship with tea cake) were based on how perceived her. Tea Cake ultimately shaped Janie in being herself and bringing out the best in her. I love the sarcastic picture by the way!
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