Janie: a Hero?

Her marriage to Joe quickly became monotonous, and soon enough, Joe died of kidney failure. Later in the novel, Janie meets a poor, young and lovable man named Vergible “Tea Cake” Woods. Tea Cake surpasses her ideal of love. Janie’s view on love did not change throughout the course of the novel; instead her first two marriages engrained her wishes and desires further; all of which were fulfilled in her marriage to Tea Cake. Janie’s relationship with Logan was exactly the opposite of her ideal type of relationship; not only did he treat her as if she was worthless because she refused to work for him, but the overall marriage was totally devoid... ... middle of paper ... ...t a bloom clearly is an underdeveloped blossom, hinting that Janie’s concept of love might have evolved.

That was even nice. She looked him over and got little thrills from one of his good points. Those full, lazy eyes with the lashes curling sharply away like drawn scimitars,” (Hurston 95). Janie loves Tea Cake’s easygoing attitude and spontaneous lifestyle, but is still leery about him, and cannot decide if she wants to be with him due to an age gap between the two. Her relationship with Tea Cake was the most beneficial, because he saw her as his equal and never felt as if she was below him.

The Towns people and Janie’s best friend Pheoby are skeptical of Tea Cake’s intentions. They think Tea Cake is after Janie’s money and widowhood. However, Janie explains to Pheoby, “Tea Cake ain’t draggin me off nowhere Ah don’t want tuh go. Ah always did want tuh git round uh whole heap, but Jody wouldn’t ‘low me tuh. When Ah wasn’t in de store he wanted me tuh jes sit wid folded hand and sit dere.” Janie admitted her desire to get up and go wherever she pleased.

In this relationship Janie is ready to speak up, Teacake goes to a party without inviting her, Janie has no reserves on telling him she wants to be a part of everything he does. Janie is tired of being pushed to the side. Even when Teacakes young mind causes trouble, when he steals $200 from Janie, his honest and love is more important to

When breast-feeding her infant, Mary is not concerned about covering up. Thus she is viewed as having no sense, and “opinion grew that [she] was simple.” (p. 27) Sub-point 2: Women who violate the moral law are ostracized and subjected to cruel and unusual punishment. Ma... ... middle of paper ... ...expand, he realizes that marrying the prettiest girl in town is not such a valuable trophy after all. Although Leola has beauty, she lacks the social graces necessary for her to be the wife of the prominent man like Boy Staunton. Despite his efforts to improve her by making her take tennis lessons, play bridge, reform her speech and grammar, she is not able to live up to the expectations.

Only after Janie starts to trust Tea Cake, does Janie begin to free herself, and in fact feel eager, to tell her friend Pheoby all that has happened since she left Eatonville. Tea Cake 's love, acceptance, and understanding frees Janie to reveal her uniqueness, through non restricted language, and with a mature, confident, real presence. Janie easily leaves her elevated position in the community to start a new life with TeaCake. Hurston hints that the pursuit of individual aspirations can bring mental freedom, much more valuable than wealth. Regardless of obvious differences in age and social status Janie finally seems to have found true love in

If yuh wants to be uh lil friendly and call me Tea Cakes, dat would be real nice.” He was closing and bolting windows all the time he talked.” Page 98 To be perfectly honest I am a little scared for Janie. Tea Cakes is acting like a perfect gentleman, helping her close up the store. But what if he turns out like both Logan and Jody. They both started treating her out all nice but then each marriage progressive took a downward slide. They both were abusive and both ignored her thoughts and feelings as a woman.

He stood out to Janie so much because of his way of making her feel like she was important. When she was with Joe Starks he never really allowed her to speak because she was a woman. For this unfamiliar trait in Tea Cake, Janie leaves Eatonville with him to get married in Jacksonville. The newly married couple eventually moved to the Everglades. Janie loved this place because it was the opposite of Eatonville.

While Janie’s Nanny forces her into marrying Logan Killicks for security; Logan also lacks love and compassion for Janie and silences her. Janie cannot use her voice when she marries Logan Killicks because of her Nanny. Although Janie knows “exactly whut” she wants to say; expressing her voice is “hard to do” (Hurston 8). From the beginning, Logan does not resemble her perfect pear tree love, which to Janie means a man who instills confidence into his wife and listens to her voice. Logan falls short of fulfilling that dream as he isolates her from the community, leaving her with no voice whatsoever.

Nanny was dissolving this image by making her marry Logan Killicks. Janie was expecting to find love through her marriage with Logan, but instead discovered that marriage does not make love when Logan tries to force her to work. Janie meets Jody one day on Logan’s farm, and she believes that he will show her the world, and love, so she marries him, and leaves Logan. She soon discovers that all he wants to be is a big voice, and has only married her for his image. After Jody dies, Janie meets Tea Cake at her store; and, although he does not have a lot of money, she truly believes that he loves her, and will fulfill her life-long search for happiness.