Comments on: Janie’s Growth away from Jody and towards Tea Cake.

By: Rachel Sterling

Rachel Sterling — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 15:04:16 +0000

rachel ward…

Interesting post. I came across this blog by accident, but it was a good accident. I have now bookmarked your blog for future use. Best wishes. Rachel Sterling….

By: cingular ringtones

cingular ringtones — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 17:34:39 +0000

cingular ringtones…

ok….

By: hurston

hurston — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 05:59:47 +0000

To address Emily’s question, I definitly think that Janie’s age contributes to the respect she receives from Tea Cake. That and her beauty. I think that Tea Cake saw in her someone who had a lot to offer and who hasn’t lived to her potential, so he was glad to make her happy and give her the freedom to do what she wants. Tea Cake is the first man who she has loved so far.

Rachel*

By: hurston

hurston — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 23:16:49 +0000

This change in Janie’s life was inevitable. The treatment she received from Jody was nothing close to what she wanted or deserved. Tea Cake represents everything inside of Janie, everything that she wishes she could have had and been during her youthful years. It can be seen that Janie is living through Tea Cake for he is so young and vibrant, but I feel that Tea Cake will give Janie the type of love she always needed and desired. During one of their earlier encounters, Janie reflects on the thought of learning to play checkers: “Somebody wanted her to play. Somebody thought it natural for her to play” (92). I was wondering if maybe Janie’s age has something to do with the respect she receives from Tea Cake?

Emily Ward

By: hurston

hurston — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 19:38:34 +0000

Dan- we totally agree with you on this matter and believe Janie’s growth towards Tea Cake was motivated by her new found freedom from “Jody”. Janie is able to now decide for herself because she has confidence in her choices and is no longer commanded by Jody. We also agree with Cassie because her hair really is the sign of her freedom and ability to live a life she wants. Tea Cake is another step in Janie’s life of becoming a grown and self-confident women.

Love,
Monica and Alyssa

By: hurston

hurston — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:06:58 +0000

I agree with Lauren compleatly about Janies hair representing freedom, and that the head rags and the life she was living was holding her down. Right after Jody dies, she does not immedietly put her hair down, but she waits. This shows the respect for tradition. By her hair finally coming down, it signifies a new found freedom that Janie has. Tea Cake comes and lets her do what she wants. Instead of being cramped up in the store, he takes her fishing and other activities, which also represents freedom for Janie. She is relieved and feels beatiful because she is away from Jody.

-Cassie

By: hurston

hurston — Fri, 25 Nov 2005 20:21:37 +0000

To elaborate on this post about Janie’s growth, I saw Jody’s dying as a major turning point in Janie’s life and her growth as a woman. This is apparent from the moment that Jody dies, when Janie “tore off the kerchief from her head and let down her plentiful hair. The weight, the length, the glory was there” (Hurston 83). Janie’s hair is a symbol of freedom, and throughout her marriage to Jody, he had made her wear it up, so that she would not be desirable to other men. Since she takes pride in how beautiful her hair is, this had restrained her. But, now that Jody has died, she feels free again. She “burnt up every one of her head rags and went about the house next morning with her hair in one thick braid swinging well below her waist” (Hurston 85). I believe that Janie’s newfound freedom gives her a renewed sense of hope, and signifies a turnaround in her attitude towards life. She is not tied down anymore by Jody, and is now free to do what she pleases in her life.
-Lauren