Matthew: A colored woman, later revealed as Janie, walks down a road through a town at sundown. The envious townfolk quietly judge her from their porches, but act respectful so as to get on her good side. Pheoby, Janie's friend, defends her and brings her dinner; Janie launches into a flashback to help Pheoby understand her troubles.
As a child, Janie lost her mother and father and lived with her grandmother in a white household. Living with the rest, she had no idea she was colored until one day when someone took her picture. After the rest of her "family" laughed, Janie and her grandmother moved to their own cabin in the backyard. The present-day Janie changes topics as the night takes on darker forms, and she reveals her grandmother's disapproval of her outlook on love. Her grandmother pressured her to marry into a higher social group, and Janie agrees reluctantly, hoping love would bloom eventually.
After some months living in her arranged marriage, Janie talks with her grandmother, who is very pleased. After their conversation, Janie realizes that her dream of love would never bloom with the situation she is in.
Janie's husband leaves to run some errands, and a stranger approaches Janie while she is alone. After a short conversation, Janie feels attracted to the man, Jody, and debates running away. Dropping some hints to her husband that their marriage may be in danger, there is a violent argument and Janie makes up her mind to leave with Jody the next morning.
Chapters 5-6:
When Janie looks at Jody, she sees a colored person with a white man mentality, and she's proud of that. When the two arrive at Eatonville, they discover the reality of the town is completely different than their expectations. They meet Hicks, who instantly tries to hit on Janie, but because Janie is madly in love with Jody, she pays no attention to all the men staring at her. Jody decides to build a store and a post office in the town, which causes controversy between the townspeople. Should a black man be trusted to run a a big portion of the town? Most answer yes and Jody instantly become a big shot in Eatonville. Jody throws a party to discuss town improvements, and during this party Tony celebrates the blessing Jody has been to the town. The townspeople decide to make him mayor because of all his wonderful contributions.
The town then cheers for a speech from Mrs. Mayor. Jody immediately shuts her down and says that her place is in the home. After the store is built, Joe orders Janie to run it because he has better things to do with his time. Because Jody abuses his power as mayor, the townsfolk start to get envious and angry. When Jody forces a man out of the town, gossip spreads like wildfire. The townsfolk secretly discuss how Jody acts similar to a white man in charge of slaves. They gossip about the harsh way Jody treats Janie. The townsfolk assume the two have an agreement and they carry on with their lives.
In front of the store, the men always tease Bonner about his skinny yellow mule. When the mule gets loose, the men antagonize and tease the helpless animal. Janie, oppressed by Jody, watches helplessly. With a change of heart, Jody buys the animal for the sole purpose of giving the animal a peaceful death. Janie then forgives Jody and compares him to famous leaders. The townspeople also recognize this as a good deed. Later that week, the mule dies, but Jody forbids Janie to go the "dragging out" because it is not lady-like.
At this point Janie feels very oppressed by Jody and associates nothing happy with her marriage. She realizes Jody's sexism is destroying the marriage, but she is helpless. At the end of the chapter she tries sticking up for another women in the town. However she is again silenced by Jody. - Maddy
Chapters 7-12:
Years of living under the oppression of Jody begins to take toll on Janie. Slowly, Janie begins to speak less and only abides to what her husband commands of her; all while dreaming of a different life and future. After being married for so long, Janie even thinks about running away to start a new life, but is quickly shot down by reality. Eventually Janie begins to see Jody in a whole new perspective; as he has aged significantly and his youthful handsomeness has faded away.
One day, while working in the store, Jody criticizes Janie's appearance and scolds her for how she cuts cigars. As Jody and his friends mock her, Janie finally steps up and defends herself. Janie attacks Jody's hypocritical views and questions how he can mock her appearance, when he has physical flaws himself. After being verbally attacked, Jody is stunned by Janie's words and realizes that he has lost his "illusion of irresistible maleness." Jody's ego crumbles as his peers look down on him for his wife's display. From that day on Jody sees Janie as a spiteful tyrant.
Janie begins to feel the coldness radiated from Jody as he refuses to converse with her and rejects her aid. Janie becomes desperate to resolute with Jody and seeks advice from her peers. As she feels guilty about her actions, Janie realizes the descent of Jody's health. After sitting back patiently waiting for Jody to forgive her, Janie calls a doctor to diagnose Jody's illness. Janie finds out that Jody has fallen victim to liver failure and that he will soon die from the condition. Janie then feels the need to make amends with Jody before he dies, so she decides to apologize. Jody faces Janie's apology with only ignorance and scolds her for her actions. After hearing that he is going to die soon, Jody breaks down into tears and accuses Janie of lying. Despite Janie's desperate attempts to make peace with him, Jody dies with only hate for Janie.
Jody's funeral is described as beautiful and scenic, as he was an important figure to Eatonville. Janie feels slightly liberated by the death of her husband; as she lets down her hair and does as she please. Yet Janie feels the lonesomeness of widowhood and thinks about her new future. As she considers returning home, Janie realizes that she is in control of her life and decides to stay in Eatonville. Soon after, Janie notices the myriad of men taking interest in her. After hearing several men advise her to think about getting a new partner, Janie decides to focus on herself and takes on the duties of Jody.
One day while closing up the shop, Janie meets a young man who begins to flirt with her. Although she doesn't see him as a romantic interest, Janie enjoys the man's way of making her laugh and feel befriended. Janie soon learns that the man's name is Vergible Woods, but goes by the nickname Tea Cake. A week after their first encounter, Janie and Tea Cake bond more as Janie invites Tea Cake to her house for cake and lemonade. After fishing in the lake, Janie falls asleep only to be woken by Tea Cake brushing her hair. Tea Cake confesses that likes her and that he wants their relationship to advance. Janie sees Tea Cake's confession as merely gibberish and assures him that he will change his mind in the morning. The next morning Janie finds herself thinking about Tea Cake often and attempts to forget his plead from the night before. A few days later Tea Cake comes by Janie's house again and reassures her that his feelings are valid. Later that day Janie finds Tea Cake once again at her porch in a hammock. After attempting to wake him, Tea Cake pulls her in with him and the two spent the rest of the night together. Janie wakes up feeling delighted and finally accepts her true feelings for Tea Cake.
After spending so much time together, Janie and Tea Cake's relationship is scrutinized by the town. Janie's friend becomes worried about Tea Cake's true intentions with Janie and warns her to be cautious with him. Janie then denies the accusations made on Tea Cake and informs her friend that the two will soon be getting married and that they are leaving Eatonville to start a new life.
-Noah
Chapters 13-17:
Janie gets on a train to Jacksonville to marry Tea Cake, leaving early to avoid making a scene. Soon after the marriage, Tea Cake mysteriously leaves the house; Janie notices that her emergency stash of money is missing too. Janie tries to convince herself that there is another explanation besides Tea Cake stealing the money, but her thoughts keep returning to her grandmother's view of marriage and how another woman's husband from Eatonville bailed after finding some money. Much to her relief, Janie finds Tea Cake at her door again the next day. Tea Cake explains he used the money to throw a party, and Janie expresses that she wants to be a part of whatever he does. Soon after, Tea Cake leaves again to go gambling. He returns with over three hundred dollars, so Janie gains much more trust in him. He then explains that he will provide for her with a real job and they move to the Everglades, or "the muck," for work.
The couple quickly gets settled before the summertime rush, and Janie learns how to hunt. Picking beans by day and gambling by night, Tea Cake provides them with a comfortable income and lifestyle. When the town fills up with the poor, Janie begins to appreciate the simple pleasures in life. Their house becomes the center of attention, and Janie is reminded of how she wasn't even allowed to speak on the porch in Eatonville. She even goes out to pick beans with the others just to be with the community.
During the off-season, Janie spends most of her time socializing. Mrs. Turner, a strange and conceited black woman, visits often and tells Janie about her white-supremacist ideas. Admiring Janie's lighter skin, Turner tries to marry her son off to Janie. Tea Cake and Janie put a stop to it, caring little about the Turners' concerns.
Mrs. Turner brings her brother into town, and Tea Cake, feeling threatened, beats Janie to show he still has power over her. However, by pampering her afterwards, Janie harbors no bad feelings over the incident. The next Saturday, two town-dwellers walk into a party drunk and cause a scene. Tea Cake tries to throw them out to get on the Turners' good side, but only escalates the problem.
Chapters 18-20:
Animals and several Tribes are headed east to escape the hurricane coming. However, Tea Cake notices the white men are staying, so he decides to stay. One night, Tea Cake and Motor Boat notice how terrible the sky looks after a game of gambling. When the house begins to flood, the three make a break for it. After walking in the rain in search of high ground, they rest in an abandoned house. There the three split up. Tea Cake and Janie keep going. When the two reached the bridge, there was no room for them to stand on, so they kept walking. Tea Cake becomes exhausted from holding Janie up while swimming through the flood, so they decide to rest on a tin roof. The roof blows Janie away. There is a cow swimming nearby, and Janie grabs on to its tail. The rabid dog on the back of the cow freaks out and tries to attack Janie. Tea Cake comes to the rescue and kills the dog. But before the dog is dead, it bits Tea Cake on the cheek.
After resting, Tea Cake leaves their shelter to find work. The only job available is to bury the bodies. A huge pit is dug for all the black bodies, and coffins are ordered for each white corpse. Janie and Tea Cake head back for the Muck. Tea Cake begins to get sick and is not able to swallow water. Tea Cake claims there is a demon in him. Janie immediately calls for a doctor. The doctor gives Tea Cake pills and talks to Janie privately outside. The doctor explains that the dog was mad and there is little hope for Tea Cake's survival. Janie should be very careful and stay away from Tea Cake when he gets angry. Tea Cake becomes angry and jealous one day and aims the pistol kept under his pillow at Janie's chest. Janie, prepared for this moment, takes out her rifle and aims back. Tea Cake shoots three times, but there were no bullets in those slots. The fourth time Tea Cake shoots, Janie shoots an instant before he does. Tea Cake misses and shoots above her head. Janie doesn't miss. Tea Cake falls into her lap and attempts to bit her in the arm. Janie cries and continues to hold Tea Cake's dead head in her lap.
Hours later, Janie is on trial for the murder of Tea Cake. The white women sympathize with Janie while the black community is against her. While Janie is on the stand, she reveals the whole truth. She does not plead guilty. She simply explains the situation. The verdict is in Janie's favor, so she leaves the court house freely.
Janie throws an elaborate funeral for Tea Cake. The 'Son of the Evening Star' should deserve nothing less. The black community forgives Janie and becomes more understanding. They take their anger out on Mrs. Turner's brother, and they run him out of town. Janie sells everything except a packet of seeds. The packet reminded her of Tea Cake more than anything.
The story switches settings. Janie is back in her house telling her story to Pheoby. Janie gives Pheoby permission to tell her story to all the other ladies of the town. She says that life is not fulfilled by stories, but memories. Pheoby feels her own life is incomplete leaves to go back to her husband. Janie decides that Tea Cake is not dead because he lives on in her memories. Tea Cake is alive until the day Janie dies.
- Maddy
When Janie looks at Jody, she sees a colored person with a white man mentality, and she's proud of that. When the two arrive at Eatonville, they discover the reality of the town is completely different than their expectations. They meet Hicks, who instantly tries to hit on Janie, but because Janie is madly in love with Jody, she pays no attention to all the men staring at her. Jody decides to build a store and a post office in the town, which causes controversy between the townspeople. Should a black man be trusted to run a a big portion of the town? Most answer yes and Jody instantly become a big shot in Eatonville. Jody throws a party to discuss town improvements, and during this party Tony celebrates the blessing Jody has been to the town. The townspeople decide to make him mayor because of all his wonderful contributions.
The town then cheers for a speech from Mrs. Mayor. Jody immediately shuts her down and says that her place is in the home. After the store is built, Joe orders Janie to run it because he has better things to do with his time. Because Jody abuses his power as mayor, the townsfolk start to get envious and angry. When Jody forces a man out of the town, gossip spreads like wildfire. The townsfolk secretly discuss how Jody acts similar to a white man in charge of slaves. They gossip about the harsh way Jody treats Janie. The townsfolk assume the two have an agreement and they carry on with their lives.
In front of the store, the men always tease Bonner about his skinny yellow mule. When the mule gets loose, the men antagonize and tease the helpless animal. Janie, oppressed by Jody, watches helplessly. With a change of heart, Jody buys the animal for the sole purpose of giving the animal a peaceful death. Janie then forgives Jody and compares him to famous leaders. The townspeople also recognize this as a good deed. Later that week, the mule dies, but Jody forbids Janie to go the "dragging out" because it is not lady-like.
At this point Janie feels very oppressed by Jody and associates nothing happy with her marriage. She realizes Jody's sexism is destroying the marriage, but she is helpless. At the end of the chapter she tries sticking up for another women in the town. However she is again silenced by Jody. - Maddy
Chapters 7-12:
Years of living under the oppression of Jody begins to take toll on Janie. Slowly, Janie begins to speak less and only abides to what her husband commands of her; all while dreaming of a different life and future. After being married for so long, Janie even thinks about running away to start a new life, but is quickly shot down by reality. Eventually Janie begins to see Jody in a whole new perspective; as he has aged significantly and his youthful handsomeness has faded away.
One day, while working in the store, Jody criticizes Janie's appearance and scolds her for how she cuts cigars. As Jody and his friends mock her, Janie finally steps up and defends herself. Janie attacks Jody's hypocritical views and questions how he can mock her appearance, when he has physical flaws himself. After being verbally attacked, Jody is stunned by Janie's words and realizes that he has lost his "illusion of irresistible maleness." Jody's ego crumbles as his peers look down on him for his wife's display. From that day on Jody sees Janie as a spiteful tyrant.
Janie begins to feel the coldness radiated from Jody as he refuses to converse with her and rejects her aid. Janie becomes desperate to resolute with Jody and seeks advice from her peers. As she feels guilty about her actions, Janie realizes the descent of Jody's health. After sitting back patiently waiting for Jody to forgive her, Janie calls a doctor to diagnose Jody's illness. Janie finds out that Jody has fallen victim to liver failure and that he will soon die from the condition. Janie then feels the need to make amends with Jody before he dies, so she decides to apologize. Jody faces Janie's apology with only ignorance and scolds her for her actions. After hearing that he is going to die soon, Jody breaks down into tears and accuses Janie of lying. Despite Janie's desperate attempts to make peace with him, Jody dies with only hate for Janie.
Jody's funeral is described as beautiful and scenic, as he was an important figure to Eatonville. Janie feels slightly liberated by the death of her husband; as she lets down her hair and does as she please. Yet Janie feels the lonesomeness of widowhood and thinks about her new future. As she considers returning home, Janie realizes that she is in control of her life and decides to stay in Eatonville. Soon after, Janie notices the myriad of men taking interest in her. After hearing several men advise her to think about getting a new partner, Janie decides to focus on herself and takes on the duties of Jody.
One day while closing up the shop, Janie meets a young man who begins to flirt with her. Although she doesn't see him as a romantic interest, Janie enjoys the man's way of making her laugh and feel befriended. Janie soon learns that the man's name is Vergible Woods, but goes by the nickname Tea Cake. A week after their first encounter, Janie and Tea Cake bond more as Janie invites Tea Cake to her house for cake and lemonade. After fishing in the lake, Janie falls asleep only to be woken by Tea Cake brushing her hair. Tea Cake confesses that likes her and that he wants their relationship to advance. Janie sees Tea Cake's confession as merely gibberish and assures him that he will change his mind in the morning. The next morning Janie finds herself thinking about Tea Cake often and attempts to forget his plead from the night before. A few days later Tea Cake comes by Janie's house again and reassures her that his feelings are valid. Later that day Janie finds Tea Cake once again at her porch in a hammock. After attempting to wake him, Tea Cake pulls her in with him and the two spent the rest of the night together. Janie wakes up feeling delighted and finally accepts her true feelings for Tea Cake.
After spending so much time together, Janie and Tea Cake's relationship is scrutinized by the town. Janie's friend becomes worried about Tea Cake's true intentions with Janie and warns her to be cautious with him. Janie then denies the accusations made on Tea Cake and informs her friend that the two will soon be getting married and that they are leaving Eatonville to start a new life.
-Noah
Chapters 13-17:
Janie gets on a train to Jacksonville to marry Tea Cake, leaving early to avoid making a scene. Soon after the marriage, Tea Cake mysteriously leaves the house; Janie notices that her emergency stash of money is missing too. Janie tries to convince herself that there is another explanation besides Tea Cake stealing the money, but her thoughts keep returning to her grandmother's view of marriage and how another woman's husband from Eatonville bailed after finding some money. Much to her relief, Janie finds Tea Cake at her door again the next day. Tea Cake explains he used the money to throw a party, and Janie expresses that she wants to be a part of whatever he does. Soon after, Tea Cake leaves again to go gambling. He returns with over three hundred dollars, so Janie gains much more trust in him. He then explains that he will provide for her with a real job and they move to the Everglades, or "the muck," for work.
The couple quickly gets settled before the summertime rush, and Janie learns how to hunt. Picking beans by day and gambling by night, Tea Cake provides them with a comfortable income and lifestyle. When the town fills up with the poor, Janie begins to appreciate the simple pleasures in life. Their house becomes the center of attention, and Janie is reminded of how she wasn't even allowed to speak on the porch in Eatonville. She even goes out to pick beans with the others just to be with the community.
During the off-season, Janie spends most of her time socializing. Mrs. Turner, a strange and conceited black woman, visits often and tells Janie about her white-supremacist ideas. Admiring Janie's lighter skin, Turner tries to marry her son off to Janie. Tea Cake and Janie put a stop to it, caring little about the Turners' concerns.
Mrs. Turner brings her brother into town, and Tea Cake, feeling threatened, beats Janie to show he still has power over her. However, by pampering her afterwards, Janie harbors no bad feelings over the incident. The next Saturday, two town-dwellers walk into a party drunk and cause a scene. Tea Cake tries to throw them out to get on the Turners' good side, but only escalates the problem.
Chapters 18-20:
Animals and several Tribes are headed east to escape the hurricane coming. However, Tea Cake notices the white men are staying, so he decides to stay. One night, Tea Cake and Motor Boat notice how terrible the sky looks after a game of gambling. When the house begins to flood, the three make a break for it. After walking in the rain in search of high ground, they rest in an abandoned house. There the three split up. Tea Cake and Janie keep going. When the two reached the bridge, there was no room for them to stand on, so they kept walking. Tea Cake becomes exhausted from holding Janie up while swimming through the flood, so they decide to rest on a tin roof. The roof blows Janie away. There is a cow swimming nearby, and Janie grabs on to its tail. The rabid dog on the back of the cow freaks out and tries to attack Janie. Tea Cake comes to the rescue and kills the dog. But before the dog is dead, it bits Tea Cake on the cheek.
After resting, Tea Cake leaves their shelter to find work. The only job available is to bury the bodies. A huge pit is dug for all the black bodies, and coffins are ordered for each white corpse. Janie and Tea Cake head back for the Muck. Tea Cake begins to get sick and is not able to swallow water. Tea Cake claims there is a demon in him. Janie immediately calls for a doctor. The doctor gives Tea Cake pills and talks to Janie privately outside. The doctor explains that the dog was mad and there is little hope for Tea Cake's survival. Janie should be very careful and stay away from Tea Cake when he gets angry. Tea Cake becomes angry and jealous one day and aims the pistol kept under his pillow at Janie's chest. Janie, prepared for this moment, takes out her rifle and aims back. Tea Cake shoots three times, but there were no bullets in those slots. The fourth time Tea Cake shoots, Janie shoots an instant before he does. Tea Cake misses and shoots above her head. Janie doesn't miss. Tea Cake falls into her lap and attempts to bit her in the arm. Janie cries and continues to hold Tea Cake's dead head in her lap.
Hours later, Janie is on trial for the murder of Tea Cake. The white women sympathize with Janie while the black community is against her. While Janie is on the stand, she reveals the whole truth. She does not plead guilty. She simply explains the situation. The verdict is in Janie's favor, so she leaves the court house freely.
Janie throws an elaborate funeral for Tea Cake. The 'Son of the Evening Star' should deserve nothing less. The black community forgives Janie and becomes more understanding. They take their anger out on Mrs. Turner's brother, and they run him out of town. Janie sells everything except a packet of seeds. The packet reminded her of Tea Cake more than anything.
The story switches settings. Janie is back in her house telling her story to Pheoby. Janie gives Pheoby permission to tell her story to all the other ladies of the town. She says that life is not fulfilled by stories, but memories. Pheoby feels her own life is incomplete leaves to go back to her husband. Janie decides that Tea Cake is not dead because he lives on in her memories. Tea Cake is alive until the day Janie dies.
- Maddy
In the first four chapters, Janie transforms from an innocent character into a realistic woman. Her purity is described through the marriage to Logan Killicks. In the quote, "Yes, she would love Logan after they were married. She could see no other way for it to come about" her innocence is further described. By the end of the four chapters, she completely transforms as a person. Her morals change when she decides that her current lifestyle is no longer fit for her. When Janie decides to run away, the harsh reality of the world is reinforced. The world then shapes Janie and she is brought into womanhood and stripped of her innocence. "Janie's first dream was dead, so she became a woman." - Maddy
ReplyDeleteI hate that the conception of the adulthood is the loss of innocence and aspirational dreams. What lessons does Janie (and Hurston) teach us about love and life? How can we stave off--what F. Scott Fitzgerald calls--the "crack-up" that hits us at adulthood?
ReplyDeleteI think that the conception of adulthood as the loss of innocence and dreams is derived from how many adults become career and love focused, rather than living by their own wishes and wants. Janie teaches us that life is limitless before marriage and that love is something that advances someone into a new stage of life. The "crack up" that hits in adulthood is something that can be prevented by ignoring all societal standards and living by our own aspirations; which is similar to how most children and adolescents carry out their actions.
DeleteI agree -- Janie is limited by her marriage to Jody (who won't let her go on the porch or give a speech) for the purpose of advancing in her career. Giving up the ideals that prioritize work and social status can help prevent this "crack up." However, given a capitalist society that values exactly that, transitioning from a romantic adolescent to a naturalistic adult can be rough.
DeleteJanie "sees a colored person with a white man mentality, and she's proud of that." I think it is interesting how her impression of this trait changes over time, especially considering that her view of the simple-yet-content townsfolk with little ambition actually IMPROVES in the same period. This controlling aspect of Jody becomes more and more irksome to Janie over the course of two chapters, but she is powerless against the mayor of the town and a sexist mindset. Pent up behind the store front, Jody has her busy all the time and not spreading information about his dominance, like a slave owner would do. The white mindset of Jody quickly turns south, and I'm guessing that Janie will leave in the near future.
ReplyDeleteAlso, one small thing that might be worth noting -- Joe and Jody are the same person, but try not to flip-flop names. We all seem to use Jody more, so stick with that.