Sleeping With the Enemy (Jody Starks)

            Throughout Their Eyes Were Watching God, Jody is a prevalent character in Janie’s life. Clearly, Jody was never a caring husband towards Janie since he conceals her identity and treats her as if she were a trophy wife – beautiful but only for show. Janie is never given the ability to hold a definite personality with Jody; she is always referred as Mrs. Starks – the wife of a strong man. After Jody dies, Janie enters a life free from restraint. While speaking to Pheoby regarding Jody, Janie said “Ah always did want tuh git round uh whole heap, but Jody wouldn’t ‘low me tuh” (Hurston 112). Janie wasn’t permitted to do the activities she desired with Jody, but once Tea Cake becomes a part of her life she was seemingly reborn. A true personality emerges from Janie since she is now capable of expressing her feelings to the world. With Tea Cake, “[Janie] couldn’t make him look just like any other man to her. He looked like the love thoughts of women” (Hurston 106). A genuine connection is present between Janie and Tea Cake which was lacking with Jody.

            Tea Cake enables Janie to be herself which strengthens their relationship. Jody, on the other hand, resembles the husband in the film Sleeping With the Enemy. The main character, Laura Burney, is very similar to Janie in that she is involved in a marriage with a very possessive husband. The so called lover and husband was essentially the enemy since he was depriving the wife of her individuality. Similar to Janie, Laura leaves her husband and embraces her true self. Eventually another man enters the woman’s life and treats her like the princess she deserves to be. No more suffocating. No more concealing identities. The women are now free.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7I-cNLXMxI

            Above is a link to a song titled “I Finally Found Someone” by Bryan Adams feat Barbra Streisand. This song greatly resembles the feelings between Janie and Tea Cake. Many of the lyrics match the couple’s situation as well since they both fell in love and Janie now has the capability to be herself. They finally found the one that will make them a better individual.