While I did enjoy Hurston's novel, I was just reading along without really thinking what was going on. The beginning of the novel didn't have too much excitement in it, but once the hurricane scene came, I was embedded into the novel.
Although Janie's relationship with Tea Cake is much more serious than with Jody, I noticed some similarities between the two men. We all know that Jody was very controlling and very demanding of Janie. She felt that he put her on a pedestal, but to keep her away from everyone. Jody wouldn't let her talk to the people of the town, unless she was assisting them in the store. Jody thought that she was too good for the townspeople. He didn't want her talking to trashy people." (p. 54) This was his way of controlling her. Tea Cake also puts Janie on a pedestal, but he does it as a way to praise her. Tea Cake isn't trying to keep her from society and socializing, but to show his love and affection for her. "Dem wuzn't no high muckty mucks. Dem wuz railroad hands and dey womenfolks. You ain't usetah folks lak dat and Ah wuz skeered you might git all made and quit me for takin' you 'mongst 'em." (p. 124)
I also noticed a similarity in the two deaths. Both husbands' deaths had a preceding illness, which made each of them crazy. Both of them seemed to lose their lifes before they were really dead. Although Jody wasn't mentally crazy, he didn't want to see her wife as he lay on his deathbed. I mean, they had been together for 20 years and Jody had nothing to say to his wife as he lay dying? To me, they could at least made ammends just so Jody could die peacefully and Janie could move along with her life with no regrets. (However, Janie never really had regrets about Jody's death.) During his illness, Janie noticed that Jody had no life left to him. One day she noticed that Joe didn't sit down. He just stood in front of a chair and fell in it. That made her lok at him all over. Joe wasn't so young as he used to be. There was already something dead about him.... Eyes a little absent too. (p. 77) Tea Cake's death was similar to this. After being bitten by a rapid dog, Tea Cake comes down with the disease and began to have awful fits. Janie knew that she was going to lose Tea Cake. Tea Cake had two bad attacks that night. Janie saw a changing look come in his face. Tea Cake was gone. Something else was looking out of his face. (p. 181)
Poor Janie, to lose two husbands must be an awful experience. However, the first was probably more of a relief, but her second was heartache. I think Janie was more accepting of Tea Cake's death. With Tea Cake, she had found what she had always hoped to find. She was able to let go of Tea Cake because he had fulfilled her life. But with Jody, Janie had wasted so much time being miserable.
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6 comments:
I agree that the novel did get good towards the end. Especially when the dog bites him. Also he's about to kill Janie and she shoots him that was very entertaining and showed that she could stick up for herself. It was upsetting that she still couldn't find the right husband for herself. That's what was most upsetting to me.
I also found it sad that each husband that she had died in a painful way. It made you feel bad for her that she couldnt find a one truly good husband that would love her deaply until they grew old together, rather they each died young and left her. jody wasnt a good husband at all, but in someways tea cake is very similar to him. he controled her by popping in everynow and then to make sure she was there, then he beat her to show her and everyone in town that he was in control and that she was his. he was very into ownership, janie was his, he would say and that justified him beating her just so he made sure the rest of the town new it. while tea cake was an improvement i still dont think he was perfect for her, or truly gentlemenly to her.
I also thought "Their Eyes Were Watching God" was interesting and I enjoyed reading it. I found myself reading further than the scheduled readings because I wanted to find out what was going to happen next. The end of the book was very exciting, and I was so surprised at how Tea Cake died. I think that Janie lived a very interesting life and at the end she was able to find true love along with who she is.
I really liked your insight on the similarities in Jody's and Tea Cake's deaths and their effects on Janie. Both Jody and Tea Cake's deaths could have been prevented if they had received proper medical treatment sooner. The horrible way that they both died meant that Janie lost them and her relationship with them before they were ever physically gone. Comparing their funerals was also interesting. At Jody's funeral, Janie acted the way that was considered socially acceptable. She hadn't really lost anything though. When Tea Cake died, Janie had actually loved him and found her life with him so she actually felt his loss. Janie's life with Jody was based on society's standards and so was the way she mourned. Janie went against society to be with Tea Cake and her relationship was based on feelings, her mourning for Tea Cake was the same.
I like your points in the similarities regarding the death of the two men. I agree that both of the men lost control of their life before they died. I think that Jody had a choice in the matter though. He lost his “life” due to his disregard for his wife, and the controlling ways that he limited her to living. Janie was very unhappy with her situation at this time. Eventually it all boiled over to the point that Janie and Jody had a blowup in front of others, and insulted each other badly. Jody lost control of his life due to his own behaviors. Tea Cake was completely different. He acquired his sickness from the dog by trying to save Janie from danger. He lost control of his life due to the sickness that the dog gave him. Overall, he lost control of his life by trying to make sure that Janie was safe. These were definitely two very different situations. Jody lost control due to his disregard for Janie, while Tea Cake lost control trying to make sure Janie was safe.
I didnt like Jody neither. I didnt like the fact that they werent the ideal couple. He was rude And he wasnt close to Janie he felt like he had to embarrass her to make himself feel better. Tea Cake was more charming. He treated her with respect and he treated her like a lady. They had amore passionate relationship. The actually loved eachother Jody and Jainie didnt share the same things as Tea Cake and Jaine did.
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