"Ah'll be gone."

Janie never really had an issue with being committed. The issue was who she was committed to. Joe for example wasn't someone she felt a strong connection with so her entire marriage was like her being locked up in a cage trying to scream and no one could hear her cries. Her marriage was like a flightless bird trying to fly. It was draining and nothing good really came out of it. Yes she had the clothes and the house but what about feelings. Joe thought she was just some Barbie housewife that would wait on him. 

     Tea Cake showed her a whole new world, a fantastic point of view. No one to tell them no, or where to go. Or say they were only dreaming. Tea Cake was was her way out. When talking to Pheoby she told her "some of dese mornin's and it won't be long, you gointuh wake up callin' me and Ah'll be gone"(pg115). Janie had her mind made up that Tea Cake was the one for her. But she still had her doubts. When she went to meet him she kept extra money that "[she] never told him about"(pg 117). This shows that Janie still can't fully trust Tea Cake. She wants to but she just doesn't want to end up like Annie Tyler. She wants Tea Cake to work. She wants them to work. Tea Cake brought out a side of Janie that was beginning to form cob webs. Tea Cake rescued the old Janie. 

A Bittersweet End

Listen To Your Heart

A major reoccurring motif in this novel is the community’s opinion surrounding Janie. From Nanny to the men sitting on the porch everybody has an opinion on Janie's life. She even makes it a point when she states that “she felt like slapping some of them for sitting around grinning at her like a pack of chessy cats” (Hurston 90). Janie has experienced many trials and tribulations and she is constantly in the mouth of these people from the Everglades to Eatonville. Janie continues to follow her heart however never succumbing to the gossip of the people. This odd unity strengthens Janies character while enhancing the ongoing theme of independence versus dependence. Janie is never alone yet never connected to another person. When she is with Tea Cake she is head over heels for him yet has her own money and will power to continue on without him. 

Janies situation reminds me of the song “Listen To Your Heart” by Roxette. This song talks about following your heart regardless of any opinions whether they are your own or of others. Roxette states in her song “and there are voices that want to be heard” but to just continue on the route of your happiness regardless (Roxette 25-26). Throughout this novel the publics opinion may have been right and listening to them might have made Janie’s life a little easier but it wouldn’t have fit the story. Janie is a strong independent women who continues to persevere through every hardship thrown at her. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCC_b5WHLX0

COLOURism

Self-hatred directed towards oneself, and one’s kind, is the ultimate offense! To despise those most similar to you is to despise yourself as well!

Mrs. Turner was a woman who believed in exclusivity. Physically, she was unique in her appearance and she used it to support her overbearing confidence as “even her buttocks in bas relief were a source of pride” (Hurston 140). She believed that her difference in physique is what separated her from the rest of her fellow black people and often times, she demonstrated this in the most condescending of ways. Sadly enough, Mrs. Turner was a victim of Colourism.

Misinterpreting her black skin as a drastic flaw, Mrs. Turner was wrong in her contorted views towards herself and others that shared the same complexion. She manifested the notion that whites kept themselves at a distance from black people because they believed that they were superior solely in their appearance. “T’ain’t de poorness, it’s de color and de features.” (Hurston 141) Mrs. Turner was simply a victim, defeated in the battle against the white man and his anti-semitic teachings; a symbol of inferiority and a pawn in the white man’s game.

http://www.africanamericanimages.com/aai/willie%20lynch.htm

According to the Willie Lynch theory (see link above), one of the methods used for controlling slaves - and black people in general- is to establish a divide amongst the race based upon skin complexion. The “Lightskin vs. Darkskin” debate has plagued the black community for as long as they’ve been in America. The implementation of inferiority has evinced itself through the thoughts and beliefs of Mrs. Turner as she tends to disassociate herself with black people in general. Ultimately, she has been conditioned to love the skin of her oppressor, thus perpetuating the ongoing oppression of a black people.

The Everglades

The Everglades was a “big and new” (128) piece of undeveloped land. This place embodied everything that Eatonsville lacked; which attracted people with a different mindset. “There was wild cane… hiding the rest of the world. People were wild too” (129). This new land isn’t stuck in the old ways; everything here is new and refreshing.

The Everglades represents the youth and the change on the horizon. Although Janie wants to be treated as an equal, when the time came, she didn’t stand up for herself. Janie is an older woman stuck in the old way. When Mrs. Turner’s brother came, Tea Cake got very jealous and whipped Janie. In a conversation with other men, they said “Lawd! Ah love tuh whip uh tender women lak Janie! Ah bet she don’t even holler” (147). The other women in town are all younger and no longer allowed their husbands to beat them; they began to fight back with “ninety- nine rows uh jaw teeth” (148). Eatonsville represented a haven for blacks while Everglades represents a haven for women.

Historically speaking, the Women’s Right Movement came to a halt during the Civil War. When Janie was still in Eatonsville, no women dared to fight back when their husband beat them, however in the Everglades, one man said “mah woman spread her lungs all over Palm Beach, let alone knock out mah teeth” (148). The “oppressors” (the husbands) realized the momentum of women’s right and stop beating their wives, “Dat’s de reason Ah done quit beatin’ mah woman” (147). The movement regained attention Post Civil War, and women became more bold with their actions.

Public Opinion

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).

Janie's True Love

What is it that Janie desires in a man? Tea Cake is the only man that Janie truly loves, but why? Jody had wealth, status, and class, so why didn’t Janie have a genuine love for him like she has for tea cake? Janie has been in three marriages, her first was arranged to Logan was too forced; she never had feelings for him. Her second marriage to Jody felt more like a prison cell than a marriage. Jody used Janie more as a display doll than a wife. But the third was the charm; Tea Cake is the one she loves.

                So what is it that Janie desires in a man? She desires a relationship, to be treated as a human, not a possession. She desired someone to make “a lot of laughter out of nothing” (p. 102) with and to just be her best friend. He attracted her from the moment she met him when he asked her to play checkers “somebody thought it natural for her to play. That was even nice” (p. 96). The fact that Tea Cake went out on adventures with her and that he is so spontaneous made her fall in love with him. Jody and Logan both were willing to treat her well, but not enough to the extent of getting cut to bring home money “cut me twice in de back”(p. 127)

             Status and wealth doesn’t impress Janie, that’s exactly what her Nanny and Jody wanted for her. Her Nanny wanted Janie to “git up on uh high chair and sit dere” (p.114) but Janie desired love so she “done lived Grandma’s way, now Ah means tuh live mine” (p.114)

   

Rejuvination in a Relationship

Rejuvenation in a Relationship

Often times (especially in today’s society), men and women are inclined to choosing their significant other based upon sheer first impression, especially that which is influenced by forms of media such as movies and television shows. However, in Janie’s case, such an influence is initially absent. Given Janie’s time period, the presence of media is miniscule (in comparison to our own time period), and it is therefore logical that she is presented as a stranger to love whom, through the essence of each relationship, undergoes a sort of “metamorphosis” that is ubiquitous throughout Their Eyes Were Watching God.  

Throughout Their Eyes Were Watching God, we are introduced to several themes encompassing the notion of love. One of such themes  is that of conflict within the relationship (specifically its influence upon both individuals), and in Janie’s case, this “theme” adapts concurrently with her ever-changing love interest. As Janie transitions from her love life with Logan Killicks to one with Jody Starks (and eventually Tea Cake), her behavior as a character appears to change as well. From a slight “spark” with Logan Killicks to her one interest who served as the impetus to her development as a character (Tea Cake), we observe Janie’s changing perspective of love itself as well as upon the world and with those whom she’d interacted with, and by the end of the novel, her archetypal portrayal as a self-made woman is justified.

As well as this, a theme of loyalty within the relationship is briefly introduced by Tea Cake when he says, “If Ah ever gits tuh messin’ round another woman it won’t be on account of her age. It’ll be because she got me in de same way you got me – so Ah can’t help mahself.” (Hurston 121). Pictured below is a quote relating the tradeoff between loyalty and “opportunity” that might present itself in one or many forms..

Independence and Growth

   Janie grows to become more independent and strongly self-willed. The focus on gender role and relationships in the novel help to develop her dynamic character. Janie goes through relationships with controlling men, helping her to become stronger and independent. By the end of her story we see how she returns, alone and independent. Her relationship with Tea Cake helped her to accept her individuality more, even though she was with him. Janie was content. When Janie returned home, we saw how she walked with her head held high as the neighbors criticized her. This shows how she has grown mentally. As she tells her story to Pheoby, the darker parts are eased by the memory of Tea Cake.
  Janie has reached "the horizon," she isn't striving for it anymore. She has met herself. She has the horizon in all her memories. I feel as though the novel is named Their Eyes Were Watching God, because 'they got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin' fuh themselves." This quote means that people need to figure out the best way for themselves to survive and "look to God," as Janie did during the hurricane. Janie "looked to God" and made a decision that would benefit herself. Janie became more self-fulfilled.

Judgements

           In Their Eyes Were Watching God, judgement is a large issue that Hurston spreads throughout the novel. Janie is constantly being judged by her actions and choices with her love life. Hurston does a good job of allowing the reader to understand where Janie is coming from and why she is judged by the language and references to things used back in the day.
          Hurston uses different parts of the book and different scenarios to show different reasons and examples of why a person like the character Janie would be judged. Hurston does this in the beginning of the book when she begins the novel with Janie coming back to her hometown and being talked about by some women that Janie barely knows. Janie is also judged by her long hair and skin color by some girls while they were in grade school. This also helps the reader to understand the time period that the novel takes place in. Hurston then again brings this problem up again after Janie's husband Joe Starks dies. "Joe Starks hadn't been dead for nine months and here she goes sashaying off to a picnic in pink linen," (Hurston 110) is a perfect example of how Janie was judged by people in town that had no relation to her or her husband. Why were the people so worried about her? What did Janie ever do to them?
         The link below is a clip of the film "Mean Girls" which relates to the post above about judgement. Most people are familiar with the movie's story line about a new girl who moves to America and starts high school for the first time in life. The main character Cady is introduced to high school clicks and 'frienemies." Cady is constantly judged throughout the film just as Janie is in the novel.
 http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=mean+girls+burn+book+clip&view=detail&mid=448E14CD891B6003E8E3448E14CD891B6003E8E3&FORM=VIRE3

Rebirth

Two husbands, two disappointments, two heartbreaks, yet a whole Janie emerged from the rubble. Throughout the novel Janie embarks on a journey to find her true love and the source of happiness. However along the way she found herself, and what could make her happy. Her past was the source of her motivation to continue onward and find her own happiness within herself, “here was peace” (Hurston 184).

Janie was married off young, and she never fully knew what she wanted or what would make her happy, but after she was under the control of two men and learned who she is, she than decided to do whatever she could to make her life truly blissful “She would have the rest of her life to do as she pleased” (Hurston 89). Before Jody’s death, Janie had been through the ringer of her husband’s insults and belittlement. She had enough. The day Jody had finally passed Janie let out a breath of relief, she finally felt the release of her controlling husbands’ grip. Although his death was tragic Janie was free and she finally felt it. After each situation in which Janie was obligated to side with her husband’s thoughts and actions, she had finally discovered her own voice. She stood up and spoke her mind, allowing her voice to be heard so that everyone would know she found herself. The Janie that was first depicted in the story sounded shy and timid, but after the death of Jody and the new discovery of Tea Cakes Janie blossomed into a strong women. The source of her motivation came from the loss of her old self, and the disappearance of her old dreams. Janie was reborn, and she finally found the source of her happiness. Herself. "'So Ah'm back home agin and Ah'm satisfied tuh be heah” (Hurston 182)

                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRz4FY0ZcwI

The song Superman (It’s not easy), relates to Janie and her path of discovery. The artist talks about how he is more than just a “pretty face beside a train”, and being stronger than what he is made out to be. Janie was looked at as being just a wife, and just a woman, yet on her own she discovered she is way more. In a sense she is like superman.

It's de Color and de Features

“It’s too many black folks already. We oughta lighten up de race” (140). These are the words of Janie’s friendly neighbor Mrs. Turner. She is a “milky sort of a” (139) color like Janie, which is why Mrs. Turner became so close to her.

In the novel Mrs. Turner is a very interesting character. Throughout chapter 16, Janie talks about how Mrs. Turner would come over all the time to talk about her “disfavorite subject… Negroes” (140). She complains “dey laughs too loud” (141) and always “singin ol’ nigger songs” (141). Mrs. Turner cannot stand black people. This is extremely ironic because Mrs. Turner is black, however she considers herself a different “type” of black.

Mrs. Turner is ashamed of her own race, which is why she thinks her and Janie should be “uh class tuh [themselves]” (141). She does not think her and Janie should be mingling with darker black people. Her philosophy is that “de black ones is holdin’ us back” (141). In Mrs. Turner’s eyes Caucasian characteristics is a gift. The lighter they are the closer they should be to “white folks’” (142). This is similar to the belief of how slaves were organized. The belief was that the lighter the slave is the closer they are to the house. Mrs. Turner, like many others during this era, worship the Caucasian features because they want to be Caucasian. Being suppressed for so long some black people did not like being black. Janie could not understand Mrs. Turner’s point of view. She assumed Caucasians would never accept them because they are too poor. Mrs. Turner replied, “Tain’t de poorness, it’s de color and de features” (141).  They were ashamed of their appearance, and as Tea Cake said "findin' fault wid everything [God] made" (145). 

Change in Characters

Finishing the novel made me have mixed emotions on the characterization of both Janie and Tea Cake. In the previous chapters Tea Cake seemed to be a good man for Janie one who will respect her as well as take care of her. However during different parts of the chapters Tea Cake became a little too demanding at times. "Put dat two hundred back wid de rest, Janie. Mah dice. Ah no need no assistance tuh help me feed mah woman. From now on, you gointuh eat whutever mah money can buy uh and wear de same. When Ah ain’t got nothin’ you don’t git nothin’"(Hurston 128). Not only did Tea Cake become controlling with money and with whom Janie talked to which ultimately lead to his death.

In the beginning of the novel, Janie is a character that made a stand for equal rights and taking a stand for being independent however as the story goes on her strong view points start to diminish. Janie lets Teacake dominate the relationship. If the Janie in the beginning of the book was the same person she is now than she would have not let Tea Cake physically abuse her. “Uh person can see every place you hit her. Ah bet she never raised her hand tuh hit yuh back, neither. Take some uh dese ol’ rusty black women and dey would fight yuh all night long and next day nobody couldn’t tell you ever hit em. Dat’s de reason Ah done quit beatin’ mah women”(Hurston 147).

Tina Turners Abusive Relationship Article               

Hair and Culture

  Throughout the entirety of the novel, Janie's hair is a noteworthy symbol. It is symbolic to her nature, and the overall theme of culture clash. "What that ole forty year old 'oman  doin' wid her hair swingin' down her back lak some young gal?" (Hurtson 2) says women who gossip about Janie in the first scene of the novel. Immediately Janie's hair portrays her nonconformity some people choose to pick on. Her hair reflects her liberal attitude and free-spirited personality, especially after she burns her head-rags after Jody Stark's death. Once again, she can let her hair down.
    On a larger scale, her straight hair signifies white people features, and how they are valued more in society.  Mrs. Turner, who admires Janie's straight hair also has an admiration for her own white features. "Look at me!" she says. "Ah ain’t got no flat nose and liver lips. Ah’m uh featured woman," (Hurtson 142). She takes pride in being a separate entity from the black community, and therefore believes she deserves a higher social status. Tea Cake, on the other hand, doesn't like the woman for this reason. "He claimed that she had been shaped up by a cow kicking her from behind. She was an ironing board with things throwed at it," Tea Cake describes abhorrently (Hurtson 139-140). Hair and other physical features overall help to characterize people and recurring themes in the novel, especially the idea of black versus white. It also shows how beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder, and how society unfortunately beautifies one race's features while degrading another.
  Like Mrs. Turner,  people still often associate features with race and culture.  Controversy occurs when a person  attempts to mimic a cultural or racial trend or attribute not of their own in a distasteful, disrespectful and offensive way. The following link is a blog explaining this concept of cultural appropriation, and how associating appearance with race is eminent in our society.

The Fine Line Between Cultural Appropriation and Cultural Diffusion

Tom Girl

     As children, girls were told through unspoken terms that only boys play in the dirt. Only boys play with monster trucks. And only boys can be police officers, firefighters, etc. Simply put, only boys can get down and dirty. If a girl were to play in the mud, she was seen as unlady-like. When she's older she wants to work? No, that's a man's job. What should women be doing? "..Women folks' [should be] cookin'...: (Hurston 149). "Janie was a good cook" (Hurston 72) but that is not the only thing she's good at. Janie is good at getting down and dirty. Which in those time's would make her a tom boy. (And not just Tom's girl... pun intended.)

In Chapter 14, Tom brings out the inner tom boy in Janie. He first teaches her how to shoot. First a pistol, then a shot gun, and next thing you know Janie is shooting with a rifle (Hurston 131). Sooner than later, "she got to be a better shot than Tea Cake" (Hurston 131). He is even able to extricate her from the kitchen and gets her out onto the field working alongside him. Janie is so in love that she does not blink an eye and follows suit, but the decision could not be better. It taught her the value of hardwork and she is not "too good to work like the rest of the women" (Hurston 133). Tea Cake was able to furbish these ideals into her. Something Killicks and Starks both could not do.

Their Eyes Were Watching Janie

“Mrs. Turner, like all other believers, had built an altar to the unattainable— Caucasian characteristics for all” (Hurston 145). Her desire to see a more white-washed African American race caused her to worship Janie’s idealistic characteristics but strongly disapprove of her courtship with Tea Cake.This reinforces the title because like Jody, Mrs. Turner seeks whitish qualities (like a pointed nose and light skin) to gain power-- in other words her eyes were watching “God." In both of their eyes, a “God” was anyone who resembled the power Caucasians possessed. Both Jody and Mrs. Turner sought Janie's Caucasian qualities for their own personal gain; By associating with Janie they both felt whiter and stronger. They constantly watched for any way to improve their status, separate themselves from normal black people, and renew their own lives the way one would follow a religious God.

Tea Cake even felt the pressure of the standards of beauty that many African Americans believed in, which is why he gave Janie “two or three face slaps” (Hurston 147). He felt that Janie could potentially leave him for somebody of higher status and lighter color. Because he felt threatened, his “whipping Janie reassured him in possession” (Hurston 147). However, Janie nonetheless remained unswayed by Mrs. Turner’s opinion because shows completely attached to and in love with Tea Cake for who he was. 

Tea Cake’s situation is similar to the one in the short film, “Plastic,” because the woman, Ana tries conform to “real beauty” standards to assure her date will adore her. However, she soon discovers that she does not need to do so because she knows her date should love her either way. Tea Cake also realizes that Janie will always love him for who he is even if his appearance is not favorable in society’s eyes. 

Sam Watson vs Lige Moss

      Although this excerpt is from the beginning part of the book, there was an indescribable urge to go back and re-read it: Sam Watson and Lige Moss' conversation. It is not only humorous but it also has a hidden significance, which is why Hurston gave their conversation a few pages,  this part may have just been the center point of the book, maybe even the "center of the world"(page 64).
     Their conversation may progress to rambles and end in shambles, but the beginning part of it was quite philosophical as Sam and Lige debated whether natural instinct or a learned sense of safety keeps men from "gettin' burnt on uh red-hot stove" (page 64) It was an interesting concept, did men not want to cook because they were raised in households where mother's were the homemakers or did they not touch it because they knew nothing about it and would hurt themselves? In modern terms, it's the age old debate over nature versus nurture.  In their continued squabble Lige argues that it's all about caution concluding that there is "no nature at all" - if there was a thing such as "nature" children wouldn't touch stoves by virtue of embedded fear; humans are taught all they need to know. (page 64) To which Sam Watson brings in the religious aspect claiming that  nature makes caution - "It's the strongest thing God ever made"; human beings are cautious by nature, how they were born. (page 65)
         Weaved into this minimal debate is a showing of Janie slowly identifying her true character in alliance with society and her ever-changing surroundings. Based upon nurture, Janie should shut her mouth and do everything her husband says- in all actuality she should still be readying Logan Killicks dinner at this point of the novel, but instead she's following the path she has chosen to construct for herself built solely on nurture. Nature can design but nurture will define.

http://totalweirdo666.deviantart.com/art/The-Dream-is-the-Truth-332795154    

This photograph shows what Janie actually wants versus what she has been raised to believe she wants, adversely bringing her great unhappiness that only she has the power to fix. 

Janie and Tea Cake

In life, many people will end up in numerous relationships until they find the one person they love and want to spend the rest of their life with. Many of times, people think they have found their “soulmate”, and end up getting married but later realize they don’t belong with this person, and end their marriage. Janie has been in three relationships in her life, searching for the right person to spend her life with.

In our society today, it is quite normal for couples to break up and marriages to end. Divorce rates are higher now than ever. In the time period Janie lived in, divorce was not a practical solution to unhappy marriages. Janie had been married to Jody Starks for a long time, but towards the end of their relationship, Janie had had enough of dealing with his behavior towards her and finally stood up to him one day. Afterwards, Janie had felt guilty about the things she had said about him and sought advice from her friend Phoeby. Phoeby tells Janie that “Its too late fuh y’all tuh be splittin’ up and gittin’ divorce.” (Hurston, 82). Janie stays with Jody until the day he dies, even though she was unhappy with the way he was treating her.

The first two relationships Janie was in, were unsuccessful for her, but when she meets Tea Cake, her love life takes a turn for the better. Janie meeting Tea Cake is a symbol for her gaining strength and stability in her life. In her previous marriages, Janie was forced to suffer under female oppression. Tea Cake was the one person Janie was with that made her feel like “she had known him all her life.” (Hurston, 99). Janie finally felt like she had meet someone who understood her and didn’t disrespect her and she was happy. She was becoming her own person, and the independent woman that Nanny had hoped Janie would become. 

Happy Marriage

After two unsuccessful marriages in the past, Janie’s marriage with Tea Cake is looking better than her other two marriages ever did. Even before Janie was yet married to Tea Cake, she seemed so joyous whenever he came to her store. Just on the night that Janie had met Tea Cake, she stood on her porch “quenching the thirst of the day” because she enjoyed meeting and having fun with Tea Cake (Hurston 99).

The second day after Janie and Tea Cake’s second meet, Janie had “thought resisting thoughts about Tea Cake” all throughout the day in the store (Hurston 106). This shows that Tea Cake is really on Janie’s mind and she is crazy about him. The morning after Janie had these thoughts about Tea Cake, he came to her door and told her he’d be back later to tell her something but instead came the night after that and told Janie, “bought me somethin’ tuh haul you off in” (Hurston 108). Later, Janie says, “Ah wants tuh go wid you real bad…” and Tea Cake responds with, “nobody else on earth kin hold uh candle tuh you, baby. You got de keys to de kingdom” (Hurston 109). When Tea Cake said this, it sounds like Tea Cake really loves Janie and just wants her to be a big part of his life. Janie appears to want the same thing out of Tea Cake which is why they’re marriage seems to flow.

Janie had thought Tea Cake had run off when she learned that her $200 dollars was missing, but he had just gone out to buy fish and other things to make a big dinner for him and Janie. He had spent her $200 but got it back because he did not want to disappoint Janie.

This quote relates to how Tea Cake feels about Janie because Tea Cake says, “...Ah been wishin’ so bad tuh git mah hands in yo’ hair. It’s so pretty. It feels jus’ lak underneath uh dove’s wing next to mah face” (Hurston 103).

Communication Within A Relationship

             Never did Jody Starks take the time to laugh or talk with his wife Janie. Never did he caress her or hold her tight within his arms. Never did he let her fully express herself and he only viewed her as a “trophy wife”- using her beauty only for show. His main priority was gaining more wealth and maintaining his position as mayor. Their lack of communication led to the demise of their marriage, but once Jody had passed, Janie was ultimately free from the chains of her cruel husband.

              Tea Cake is introduced as a stranger, a man with great delight and jubilation. He functions as the catalyst that helps drive Janie to an untroubled future. The second they encounter, they engage in a joyful conversation consisting of jokes and laughter. “They both laughed and she handed him two kitchen matches out of a box for that purpose.” (Hurston 95). He was constantly taking her out to do things she’s never done before, like hunting and fishing. He allowed Janie to finally fully express herself. “Seemed as if she had known him all her life.” (Hurston 99). Their ability to maintain strong communication with one another is the reason for their healthy and gleeful relationship.
             
                “A Mad Black Woman’s Diary” closely represents Janie’s situation concerning Jody and Tea Cake. After 18 years of marriage to lawyer Charles, Helen (his wife) is shocked when he announces he's ending their marriage. While Charles prepares for the trial, Helen is courted by Orlando, an affectionate man with moral values. He treats Helen with care and he’s the cause of her joy. Charles represents Jody, a man who mistreats his wife, while Orlando and Helen represent Tea Cake and Janie. Orlando lifts Helen off her feet, much like Tea Cake does to Janie.

 

 

 

 “Why Did I Get Married” is about a woman who gets cheated on by a man who obviously does not care about her. Never did they engage in joyful conversations or happy activities. In the end, the woman who gets cheated on finds a man who is willing to take care of her, a man who will make her happiness last an eternity.

 

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.

 

 

Tea Cake vs. Jody Starks

(Spoiler: I finished the book.) At the end of the novel, Tea Cake’s life comes to a brutal end. His death brought great sorrow to Janie and the audience can tell that she truly loved him by the way she buries him, taking great care to keep him “out of the way of storms” (Hurston 189).  In comparison, her burial of Jody was not sentimental, but filled with “gloat and glamor” (Hurston 88). Also, after Tea Cake’s death Janie decided to return to the place she met him and he was always on her mind. After Jody’s death, Janie found a new freedom and instead of wasting away in mourning she did everything to forget his memory; “she burnt up every one of her head rags” (pg 89).

                The author does a great job creating a comparison of the two men.  Her diction gives the audience a sense of what it is like to live with each man. Janie is a powerful woman and her opinions of both of her late husbands are uncommon during the time period.  Janie fights back against Jody and falls in love with a man of a different class. The author persuades the audience to turn away from Jody’s strict manors and lean towards Tea Cake because of his great charm. The author’s way with words sways the reader’s opinion. His figurative language comparing Tea Cake to “the love thoughts of women” and “a pear tree blossom in the spring” make the audience feel with Janie (Hurston 106). The reader then truly is given a sense of what it must have been like to live with a bitter man like Jody Starks.