Their Eyes Were Watching God: Comprehension and Analysis Blog

             Chapter 17 is a very short chapter right before the climax of the entire story. Although it has a small amount of text, it is an important connecting device to the climax. When I read the first page of chapter 17, I was surprised that Tea Cake beat up Janie, but I was even more surprised that Janie did not defy him. At first, I understood this incident as Hurston’s strategy to make an appropriate connection between before and after chapter 17. However there is something with deeper meaning; it shows how much Janie has developed herself to use her silence to express herself. Beside Jody, Janie’s silence was a symbol of her weakness and helplessness but after his death, helped by Tea Cake, she found her voice back and now she knows how to use it suitably. Her silence is only her strength in chapter 17!
 
By the way I have a quick question, is tomorrow day 1 or day 2??
 
Chris Kim

Something that has always boggled my mind is when someone is racist towards someone in their own race. A prime example of this is Mrs. Turner. She is a lighter skinned negro, and feels superior to any darker skin negro, and she is not afraid to hide her opinions. Mrs. Turner is immediatley drawn to Janie for the same reason, because she has much lighter skin, and white hair. Mrs. Turner will often visit with Janie and discuss her harse opinions with Janie. Mrs. Turner’s main concern stems from the fact that Janie is married to Tea Cake, she would classify Tea Cake as a “common nigger”. The term “common nigger” is deamed to anyone with dark skin, who works in the field. Mrs. Turner just can not understand how Janie, who is much lighter skin, and therefore classier, than her dark skinned husband, could marry someone like Tea Cake. Mrs. Turner’s initial reaction was the Tea Cake must of had a lot of money when Janie married him.

“Whut make you think dat, Mis’ Turner?” (Hurston 135).

“Tuh git hold of uh woman lak you. You got mo’ nerve than me. Ah jus’ couldn’t see mahself married to no black man. It’s too many black folks already. We oughta lighten up de race (Hurston 134-135).

In Mrs. Turner’s mind the only way a woman like Janie would marry a man like Tea Cake is if he had a lot of money. And in fact, in Janie and Teak Cake’s situation the case is just the oppisite. Janie is the one with all of the money, so clearly she married Tea Cake only out of love for him.

Mrs. Turner says some very inetesrtign things in that one quote: “Ah jus’ couldn’t see mahself married to no black man” (Hurston 135). Mrs. Turner is black, and she is married to a black man.  In her eyes, she doesnt see this because they are lighter skin. Ultimatley she is dividing a line within her own race. She is saying even though i am from the same race as you i am better because my skin is lighter. Where does Mrs. Turner get this notion from? Is it a reprecussion of the attitudes of whites towards blacks? Is it steming from a desire to be white?

EMIILY DESTEFANO