Zora Neale Hurston, was full of imagination, imagery and phrasing. Janies character and dialogue seemed to slip wisdom into the readers head without them knowing their ingesting something deep and true. The ups and downs of Janies life have made her a stronger person. This is shown endless times throughout the novel. I feel that this story recognizes that there are endless problems to the human condition, such as the need to possess, fear of the unknowing and stagnation. However, the story does not give a feeling of hopelessness. Through Janies character, Ms. Hurston extends a recognition and understanding of humanitys need to escape emptiness. Dem meatskins is got tuh rattle tuh make out theys alive (183) Her solution is simple: Yuh got tuh go there tuh know there. Janie sets out on a quest to make sense of inner questions.
She does not sit back and let the tragedies in her life cripple her. Instead it strengthens her. Through questioning and discovery she better understands the world she lives in and how small a thing happiness is comprised of: If you kin see de light at daybreak, you dont keer if you die at dusk. Its so many people never seen de light at all. (151) This quote caught my eye while I was reading because it makes you truly think of what really makes you happy in life. Janie married Logan Killicks for protection rather than love. He seemed to feel that he deserved to slap her around. Janie soon realizes that she is living in Nannys dreams rather than her own and decides to escape with Jody. A feeling of sudden newness and change came over her. Even if Joe was not there waiting for her, the change was bound to do her good.
This shows a great strength in her character because even if Joe wasnt there for her she would still be determined to change without him. Joe seems closer to her ideal, closer to the dream of marriage that she has. But, he represents a black man who wishes to gain wealth and power. From the beginning of their relationship there were signs that he was not the love Janie was looking for. On the train the next day, Joe didnt made many speeches with rhymes to her, but he bought her the best things the butcher had(34) Jodys life revolved around money this was already apparent. He bought her things because he was ownership-oriented.
Jody treated her more like an object than a human. He thinks that, Somebody got to think for women and chilun and chickens and cows (67) He is good to Janie but he is also good to his animals. His attitude toward Janie is shown by the over worked mules he buys and sets free. He allows the mules to wander around town as evidence of his generosity and wealth.
Freein dat mule makes a mighty fine man outa you. Something like George Washingtonyou got uh town so you freed uh mule. You have tuh have power tuh free things and dat makes you lak uh king uh something (55). Here Janie realizes that she too serves only as a reflection of his position and wealth. Tea Cake, on the other hand, gave Janie the freedom to be who she was, not who someone wanted her to be. He allowed her to bloom.
He not only encouraged her growth to independence but also furthers it by teaching her skills and praising her talents. Although he does not have the financial stability of the first two men he has an openness of mind that allows Janie to escape from peoples expectations. He makes Janie realize that she has to decided what she wants out of life, and she discovers she hates the limitations Nanny imposed on self-fulfillment: Nanny had taken the biggest thing God ever made, the neck tight enough to choke her. Even though Tea Cake dies and Janie ends up alone she has lived a life of experience and a self-realization that gives her peace. There are years that ask questions and years that answer. The fact that she is alone and is now in peace with herself shows the strength of an African American woman.
In conclusion, Janies life was full of tragedy but she pulled through and made the best out of what she had. She never gave up and always kept striving for the life she always wanted. Even though she ended up alone in the end she was still strong and proud of herself. This shows strength more enduring than anything. She never let anything hold her down and became at peace with herself.
