Zora Neale Hurston was a prominent African-American writer during the mid-1900’s. Her writings have emotion behind them, and many were written from personal experiences. She wrote four complete novels and published many more short stories and other writings. She has influenced many writers since her time and gives people a look into the lives of African-American’s in the 1920’s-1950’s. She has many accomplishments and her life is a testimony to her writings.
Hurston was born on January 7, 1891, to John Hurston and Lucy Ann Hurston in Notasulga, Alabama. She was the fifth child of eight and moved from Alabama to Eatonville, Florida, while she was still young. Hurston always claimed Eatonville to be her true home and even would say she was born there. When she was 13 years old, Zora’s mother died, and her father remarried another women very soon after. Hurston had always considered her mother to be more understanding and encouraging than her father, so the death of her mother was heart-breaking for her and changed her life forever. She never got along with her stepmother and would fight with her often. Her father and stepmother sent her away to boarding school in Jacksonville, Florida, but they eventually stopped paying her tuition and the school expelled her. She worked many jobs and eventually became a maid for a Gilbert and Sullivan traveling troupe.
Because she had not finished high school, Hurston enrolled in Morgan Academy in 1917. At this time she started saying she was ten years younger than she actually was. Hurston graduated from Morgan Academy in 1918 and moved on to undergraduate school. She attended Howard University from 1918 to 1924 and then attended Barnard College starting in 1925. She graduated with a B.A. in anthropology and attended graduate school at Columbia University for anthropology. While in college, Hurston joined a sorority and co-founded The Hilltop, the student newspaper at Howard University.
Hurston wrote many things starting in the 1920’s. She moved to New York during the rise of the Harlem Renaissance and began writing short stories and articles about Harlem Renaissance. In 1937, Hurston published her most famous novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. She also wrote two other novels during the 1930’s including, Jonah's Gourd Vine and Moses, and Man of the Mountain. During the 1940’s, Hurston published articles in newspapers and magazines and wrote her last novel, Seraph on the Suwanee. She wrote a few more things before her death in 1960, but her most memorable writing had been done earlier.
Zora Neale Hurston died on January 28, 1960. Even though she died and was buried in an unmarked grave, her legacy and writings will go on forever. She has influenced many prominent writers throughout the years and continues to provide insight into her life and the lives of others during her time. She has many more accomplishments that make up who she was and why she wrote the things she wrote. Later, her grave was marked with an inscription reading, "Zora Neale Hurston: A Genius of the South."
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Novel Synopsis | By Amber
Janie Mae Crawford sat and told her close friend Pheoby her life story of a beautiful colored girl with white blood in her--which gave her a beautiful head of smooth black hair and many attractive features that were often envied and lusted upon by others--who's life was completely changed when she was 16 years old. She was still in school but her dying grandmother, “Nanny” thought it was best to take her out to have her married off to Logan Kilicks right away, so that before Nanny died she would have the assurance that Janie would be prosperous and well taken care of. Nanny thought it would be fit for Janie to marry Logan Kilicks because he was better off than most colored folks. Janie however had a different dream from Nanny’s -- she wanted something more, she longed for adventure and love. By Nanny having Janie marry Mr. Kilicks, Nanny took these opportunities from Janie which Janie later despised her for.
Finding no love or happiness in her marriage with Logan made Janie’s decision to leave him for Joe Starks--whom Janie called Jody--easy. Jody was a man with big dreams; he wanted to be big in the world, to have a big role in the makings of an all black town which was a rare thing, since slavery had only shortly come to an end. Eatonville gladly welcomed Jody Starks and his pocketful of money, along with his beautiful new wife Janie. This is where Jody’s dreams came true. He became the mayor, making Janie a Mayor’s wife, Jody took her role more serious than Janie, by not allowing her to be a “commoner” and instructing her not to waste her time listening to the townspeople or to partake of their conversations. Jody never explained his reasons, which were protective and sweet, but also controlling and damaging. His failure to communicate his reasons with Janie ruined their relationship. Jody became sick and died. This left Janie feeling a sense of freedom, and put a spark in her life, that maybe her dreams could still become fulfilled. Jody had left her with a lot of money, which many men tried to get their hands on by marrying her away. But she did not fall for them, and had no interest in remarrying or pursuing a relationship at this point.
But then along came Tea Cake. He was a smooth talking fine black man who was over ten years younger than Janie, but that did not stop him. He charmed her and did adventurous fun things like taking her fishing in the middle of the night. After some hesitation from Janie, Tea Cake proved his love was sincere. He worked hard and got enough money to take Janie away from Eatonville to have some fun. At one point Janie doubted Tea Cake when her money was found missing when Tea Cake had gone to “buy fish”. He returned promising to earn her money back, which he did and Janie did not doubt him again. They moved to “the muck” where they were a popular couple and worked side by side meeting all sorts of interesting people. Unlike other’s that Janie had known, Tea Cake treated her like a person, he taught her checkers, he bought her a gun she even became a better shot than he himself, making him a little bit jealous but yet at the same time very proud of his wife. Their true love and friendship was serene.
Then came tragedy--Tea Cake’s life came to a sorrowful end. He had risked his own life to save Janie, and later became sick and died. This left Janie alone and heartbroken, but not without the knowledge that she had lived her dreams and found her search of true love.
Finding no love or happiness in her marriage with Logan made Janie’s decision to leave him for Joe Starks--whom Janie called Jody--easy. Jody was a man with big dreams; he wanted to be big in the world, to have a big role in the makings of an all black town which was a rare thing, since slavery had only shortly come to an end. Eatonville gladly welcomed Jody Starks and his pocketful of money, along with his beautiful new wife Janie. This is where Jody’s dreams came true. He became the mayor, making Janie a Mayor’s wife, Jody took her role more serious than Janie, by not allowing her to be a “commoner” and instructing her not to waste her time listening to the townspeople or to partake of their conversations. Jody never explained his reasons, which were protective and sweet, but also controlling and damaging. His failure to communicate his reasons with Janie ruined their relationship. Jody became sick and died. This left Janie feeling a sense of freedom, and put a spark in her life, that maybe her dreams could still become fulfilled. Jody had left her with a lot of money, which many men tried to get their hands on by marrying her away. But she did not fall for them, and had no interest in remarrying or pursuing a relationship at this point.
But then along came Tea Cake. He was a smooth talking fine black man who was over ten years younger than Janie, but that did not stop him. He charmed her and did adventurous fun things like taking her fishing in the middle of the night. After some hesitation from Janie, Tea Cake proved his love was sincere. He worked hard and got enough money to take Janie away from Eatonville to have some fun. At one point Janie doubted Tea Cake when her money was found missing when Tea Cake had gone to “buy fish”. He returned promising to earn her money back, which he did and Janie did not doubt him again. They moved to “the muck” where they were a popular couple and worked side by side meeting all sorts of interesting people. Unlike other’s that Janie had known, Tea Cake treated her like a person, he taught her checkers, he bought her a gun she even became a better shot than he himself, making him a little bit jealous but yet at the same time very proud of his wife. Their true love and friendship was serene.
Then came tragedy--Tea Cake’s life came to a sorrowful end. He had risked his own life to save Janie, and later became sick and died. This left Janie alone and heartbroken, but not without the knowledge that she had lived her dreams and found her search of true love.
Historical Context | by Victoria
During the 1900’s in the south, blacks and whites were segregated to the extremes. Louisiana had separate entrances, Oklahoma segregated telephone booths, Kentucky enforced separate schools, and no text book would be reissued or redistributed if it was used by a black. Two-thousand blacks were lynched by white mobs between 1884 and 1900. Some of them were burned alive, shot, or beaten to death. Jim Crow Laws denied private and public rights to all African Americans. Blacks weren’t allowed access to picnic areas, parks, beaches, and many hospitals. Thousands of blacks moved to the north to get away from the Jim Crow area.
Nearly 100,000 blacks moved to Harlem, New York. During the 1920’s, Harlem was known for creativity in art and literature by blacks. This movement was known as the Harlem Renaissance. It was the political, artistic, and cultural birth of African Americans. In 1925, Zora Neale Hurston moved to Harlem. There she focused her writing on African American folktales and folk culture. She carefully studied stories, language, and culture of the blacks in the South. Hurston also portrayed women as strong and independent in her books. The nineteenth amendment, which gave women the right to vote, may have influenced her to show women this way. Despite her attempt to show the public about black, southern culture, Hurston was condemned by many for celebrating it in art and literature. In 1929, the crash on Wall Street and the Great Depression began to cease the Harlem Renaissance from continuing.
Between 1914 through 1918, about one million blacks moved north due to many reasons. World War I began and white men who fought in the war left their jobs which needed to be filled. Also, soil erosion and competition from foreign markets led to poverty in the south, so many blacks moved north. Since many blacks were farmers, the boll weevil infestation of cotton fields forced sharecroppers and laborers to find replacement jobs. Their only hope was to move north. The Immigration Act of 1924 halted European immigrants from emerging to industrial centers in the Northeast and Midwest, causing shortages of workers. Lastly, hundreds of thousands of black farmers had to move because the Great Mississippi flood of 1927 destroyed land and crop.
Although most of Hurston’s fiction was published after the Harlem Renaissance, it can still be used as accurate information. As well as the information on African American culture and their language.
Nearly 100,000 blacks moved to Harlem, New York. During the 1920’s, Harlem was known for creativity in art and literature by blacks. This movement was known as the Harlem Renaissance. It was the political, artistic, and cultural birth of African Americans. In 1925, Zora Neale Hurston moved to Harlem. There she focused her writing on African American folktales and folk culture. She carefully studied stories, language, and culture of the blacks in the South. Hurston also portrayed women as strong and independent in her books. The nineteenth amendment, which gave women the right to vote, may have influenced her to show women this way. Despite her attempt to show the public about black, southern culture, Hurston was condemned by many for celebrating it in art and literature. In 1929, the crash on Wall Street and the Great Depression began to cease the Harlem Renaissance from continuing.
Between 1914 through 1918, about one million blacks moved north due to many reasons. World War I began and white men who fought in the war left their jobs which needed to be filled. Also, soil erosion and competition from foreign markets led to poverty in the south, so many blacks moved north. Since many blacks were farmers, the boll weevil infestation of cotton fields forced sharecroppers and laborers to find replacement jobs. Their only hope was to move north. The Immigration Act of 1924 halted European immigrants from emerging to industrial centers in the Northeast and Midwest, causing shortages of workers. Lastly, hundreds of thousands of black farmers had to move because the Great Mississippi flood of 1927 destroyed land and crop.
Although most of Hurston’s fiction was published after the Harlem Renaissance, it can still be used as accurate information. As well as the information on African American culture and their language.
Cast of Characters | By Samantha
Janie Crawford (Killicks, Starks, Woods)
Janie Crawford was a lively girl growing up. From a young age she had a longing for love, however, by the time she was 40, Janie had been married three times. Through the years, she had never found the true love, contentment, and purpose that she always desired—that is until her third husband. Janie’s life was marked by poverty and trials, yet she never gave up. Because she refused to live in sorrow, bitterness, or fear, Janie makes the most of the life that she has.
Logan Killicks
Logan Killicks was Janie’s first husband. He was young and rich; known throughout the town by his 60 acres of land. He marries Janie, even though there was no attraction (At least on her part). After the first few weeks of marriage and sweet talk, Logan changed and began treating Janie poorly. From then on, until Janie left him, Logan expected her to do strenuous work with him.
Joe Starks
Joe Starks was Janie’s second husband. He easily wooed her away from her marriage to Logan because she never really loved Logan, and Joe’s promises sounded appealing. Joe Starks had a good sum of money, and planned to go on to Eatonville to buy land and become mayor. Joe, like Logan, also changed after a while of marriage, and his town status became more important than his wife. Joe and Janie lived together, but were estranged for many years, up until Joe died.
Tea Cake (Vergible Woods)
Tea Cake was Janie’s third husband. Although he was twelve years younger than her, and a drifter and gambler, he caught Janie’s attention. The kindness, and wit of Tea Cake attracted Janie, and the two ran off together to get married. Tea Cake’s behavior was sometimes strange, but the couple had a genuine love for each other. Unlike her previous husbands, Tea Cake never changed after they were married and started to treat her worse. His love proved strong, and his actions showed that he cared.
Pheoby Watson
Pheoby Watson was Janie’s best friend. Janie could confide in Pheoby, and vise versa. When Tea Cake first came to town and Janie showed interest in him, Pheoby felt comfortable enough to approach her and warn her about the relationship. Later, when Janie returns home after Tea Cake’s death, Pheoby is the only one who goes to talk with her, while everyone else sits and gossips.
Nanny
Janie’s grandmother, Nanny, raised her from birth. Nanny had a good heart and good ambitions for Janie; however, she didn’t really know what was best for her. By arranging for Janie to marry Logan, Nanny wasn’t helping things, although she really just wanted Janie to be able to enjoy a life full of love—unlike she herself ever had.
Janie Crawford was a lively girl growing up. From a young age she had a longing for love, however, by the time she was 40, Janie had been married three times. Through the years, she had never found the true love, contentment, and purpose that she always desired—that is until her third husband. Janie’s life was marked by poverty and trials, yet she never gave up. Because she refused to live in sorrow, bitterness, or fear, Janie makes the most of the life that she has.
Logan Killicks
Logan Killicks was Janie’s first husband. He was young and rich; known throughout the town by his 60 acres of land. He marries Janie, even though there was no attraction (At least on her part). After the first few weeks of marriage and sweet talk, Logan changed and began treating Janie poorly. From then on, until Janie left him, Logan expected her to do strenuous work with him.
Joe Starks
Joe Starks was Janie’s second husband. He easily wooed her away from her marriage to Logan because she never really loved Logan, and Joe’s promises sounded appealing. Joe Starks had a good sum of money, and planned to go on to Eatonville to buy land and become mayor. Joe, like Logan, also changed after a while of marriage, and his town status became more important than his wife. Joe and Janie lived together, but were estranged for many years, up until Joe died.
Tea Cake (Vergible Woods)
Tea Cake was Janie’s third husband. Although he was twelve years younger than her, and a drifter and gambler, he caught Janie’s attention. The kindness, and wit of Tea Cake attracted Janie, and the two ran off together to get married. Tea Cake’s behavior was sometimes strange, but the couple had a genuine love for each other. Unlike her previous husbands, Tea Cake never changed after they were married and started to treat her worse. His love proved strong, and his actions showed that he cared.
Pheoby Watson
Pheoby Watson was Janie’s best friend. Janie could confide in Pheoby, and vise versa. When Tea Cake first came to town and Janie showed interest in him, Pheoby felt comfortable enough to approach her and warn her about the relationship. Later, when Janie returns home after Tea Cake’s death, Pheoby is the only one who goes to talk with her, while everyone else sits and gossips.
Nanny
Janie’s grandmother, Nanny, raised her from birth. Nanny had a good heart and good ambitions for Janie; however, she didn’t really know what was best for her. By arranging for Janie to marry Logan, Nanny wasn’t helping things, although she really just wanted Janie to be able to enjoy a life full of love—unlike she herself ever had.
Passage Rewrite | By Victoria
From Chapter 7, Pages 78-80
Voice of Jody
Voice of Jody
I tried not to think about getting older. I could feel it taking over my body more every day. The more I ached, the more I tried to keep the town’s eyes off me. The only way I knew how to keep the condemning eyes from staring at me was to put them onto Janie. Janie’s my wife, and it should be in her best interest to keep me happy.
I’ve never seen a person cut tobacco worse than Janie. One day, Steve Mixon asked Janie to cut a plug of tobacco for him. Of course, Janie cut it all wrong.
“Janie, you’se always embarrassin’ me lak dat. You know yo’ ain’t s’posed to cut it dat way.”
Steve Mixon seemed to think it was funny, though. He was laughing so hard, he was nearly crying. I didn’t find it at all funny. I wanted to smack Janie right across her dumb head. I snatched the plug of tobacco out of Mixon’s hands and cut it the way it should be cut.
“Calm down, Brother Mayor, it cut done fine, but yo’ should neva put uh ‘oman and uh knife tuhgether,” he laughed.
“I god! You’d think uh ‘oman of her age would know how tuh cut uh plug of tobacco by now. You’se and yo’ saggy butt ain’t good fo nothin’ ‘round heah.”
I heard the town’s folks roaring with laughter. I laughed a little, too. Janie didn’t mind to be poked fun at, besides if the folks laugh at her, they won’t have enough time to be laughing at my looks. But out of sheer disrespect, Janie fought back.
“Jody, why yo’ have tuh be so mean lak dat? Mah doings have nuthin’ to do wid mah looks.”
“Now whut’s wrong wid you? You shouldn’t be getting’ all hurt ‘bout you’se looks. You ain’t young lak yo’used to be. Yo’ now uh ole ‘oman.”
“Ah ain’t as ole as you, Jody. Yo’ done ‘bout ten years older than me. You’se always tryin’ to hide yo’ age lak dat, but dem folks notice.”
“You’se gettin’ all mad, now. Treatin’ me no bettuh than a piece uh meat. It’s not lak nobody heah is lookin’ for a wife outa yuh.”
“It ain’t right fo yo’ to be treatin’ me lak dis. Ah reckon ah looks mah age. Humph! Yo’ belly sags past dem knees uh you’se and you’se always braggin’. You think Ah look ole! You look like you’se from ‘nuther planet when you pull down yo’ britches.”
I fumed with anger. I couldn’t believe she said those words to her own husband. Embarrassment draped over me like a heavy, wool blanket. The folks laughed. I felt as if I had been robbed of my manhood. No woman should ever treat a man like that. After all that I have given to her and done for her, she should be treating me like a king. I no longer considered her as my wife. I would forever be embarrassed in this town, my town! Folks will stare and pity me. I will no longer attempt to talk to Janie or put any effort onto her. I had no words left to say to her, so I hit Janie with all my strength and dragged her out of the store.
Character Analysis | By Samantha
In Zora Neale Hurston’s, Their Eyes Were Watching God, the protagonist, Janie Crawford finds herself in different stages of her awareness of love. Throughout the story of her experiences, Janie’s perspective of love changes and evolves. Following are five examples that reveal the main character’s outlook on life and love.
To begin, the first example is found in the beginning of chapter two, right before Janie begins to tell her closest friend, Pheoby, what has happened in her life since they were last together. To quote, “Janie saw her life like a great tree in life with the things suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone (8).” So many things—unimaginable, happy, and sad—had happened in her life between the time she left town, until this point. This passage tells the reader that Janie’s life was full of good, simple times and bad, complicated times.
The second example takes place right before Janie marries her first husband, Logan Killicks, and says, “There are years that ask questions and years that answer. Janie had had no chance to know things, so she had to ask. Did marriage end the cosmic loneliness of the unmated? Did marriage compel love like the sun the day? (21)” Here, it is announced that Janie is longing for love, but since she isn’t attracted to Logan Killicks, she wonders if marriage itself will cause her to love him. After her nanny’s prodding, Janie married Logan and finds out that marriage does not “make” love happen (25). Logan did not treat her special, did not appreciate her, and did not love her. From this point, Janie’s mindset changed and she realized that her childhood dream for true love would not be fulfilled with Logan Killicks. “Janie’s first dream was dead, so she became a woman. (25)”
The third example can be found in the fifth chapter, after Janie left her first husband, Logan, to run off and marry Joe Starks—a charming young man who swept her away. The newly wed couple lived in a new town, and Janie’s new husband, Joe, has become mayor of the town. Their relationship started out great. Joe promised Janie all the things that Logan Killicks could never offer her. However, unfortunately, the "power" of being mayor was too much for Joe and he began to change. Soon his wife was put on the back burner. We then find that “a feeling of coldness and fear took hold of her (Janie). She felt far away from things and lonely. (46)” At this point, Janie doesn’t know what love really is. She thought she found true love, but it turned its back on her—again.
Later on in the story, Joe Starks died. He and Janie were married for years, but their relationship had deteriorated. Although they continued to live in the same house, they barely knew each other. Janie felt freedom like she hadn’t felt in a long time. Soon, a man called “Tea Cake” came on the seen and was instantly attracted to Janie. Even though the two were about twelve years apart, Janie returned his feelings.
The fourth example can be found when her friend Pheoby came to talk to her about Tea Cake and Janie noted, “Ah'm older than Tea Cake, yes. But he done showed me where it's de thought dat makes de difference in ages. If people thinks de same they can make it all right" (115). Janie really loved Tea Cake, and she realized that age doesn’t matter when you’re in love.
The fourth example can be found when her friend Pheoby came to talk to her about Tea Cake and Janie noted, “Ah'm older than Tea Cake, yes. But he done showed me where it's de thought dat makes de difference in ages. If people thinks de same they can make it all right" (115). Janie really loved Tea Cake, and she realized that age doesn’t matter when you’re in love.
The fifth and final example is found at the very end of the book, after Tea Cake’s death. Sadly, after Tea Cake was bitten by a dog with rabies, Janie was forced to shoot him out of self defense. However, her love for him never diminished. Janie ended her story to Pheoby with these words about love, "Love is lak de sea. It's uh movin' thing, but still and all, it take its shape from de shore it meets, and it's different with every shore." (191) This passage ties up the whole message of love that is present throughout the whole book. Janie realized that each person’s experience with love is different, and each experience is special. She never took Tea Cake’s love for granted, and their love would always live on.
In closing, Janie’s life was definitely full of ups and downs. During some times, she had to brave the storms of life. Other times brought laugher and joy. All in all, she learned that love is real, but that it is not something that just happens over night. Janie also found that even true love brings good times and bad times. At the end of the story, although her husband is dead, Janie acknowledged that “he could never be dead until she herself had finished feeling and thinking.” With this in mind, Janie found peace.
Works Cited: Their Eyes Were Watching God. Zora Neale Hurston
Symbol Evaluation | By Amber
1) “Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by time. That is the life of men” (1).
This passage is a great symbolism of Janie’s life. Her dreams came true later on, but they were fulfilled, they were not “mocked to death by time” (1). This passage symbolizes that some people do not go and live their dreams; time creeps up and destroys them. Janie realized time could take away her dreams, she had given up on her dreams with Landon, but along came Jody and a new hope came. With Jody her dreams and desires were once again put to the side. Then came Tea Cake, he was able to make her dreams come true, her biggest of all; he showed her true love could be possible they were a living exampl. He made her dreams come true, and by this she was satisfied.
2) “Janie saw her life like a great tree in a leaf with the things suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone. Dawn and doom was in the branches” (10).
This passage is a great symbolism to the whole book. The novel reveals sufferings that Janie experiences. She had to go through her whole life without knowing her parents, she was bitter with her grandmother, she was pushed into a marriage and promised she’d find love which did not come, she married Jody and suffered from his tight rein on her, not allowing her to do harmless things she desired, and then greatest of all was Tea Cake’s death. But with Tea Cake she experienced true joy and love, she was truly happy with Tea Cake, he treated her right. She was able to do things she dreamed of that had not been done. The tree symbolized her life.
3) “Phoeby Watson didn’t go in by the front gate and down the palm walk to the front door. She walked around the fence corner and went in the intimate gate with her heaping plate of mulatto rice. Janie must be around the side” (5).
This passage symbolizes Janie and Pheoby Watson’s friendship. She didn’t bother going through the front door, she helped herself around that back knowing Janie well enough to know that is where she would be found. This shows their friendship is deep. Throughout the novel Janie would go visit Pheoby about problems with Jody, and then Pheoby went to visit Janie when people noticed Janie was showing interest in Tea Cake. Here they are at the “end” of Janie’s journey with Tea Cake and Janie tells Pheoby her story, Pheoby gladly offers her time and listens.
4) “Thought Ah’d try git heah soon enough tuh tell yuh mah daytime thoughts. Ah see yuh needs tuh know mah daytime feelings. Ah can’t sense yuh intuh it at night” (126-127)
Tea Cake told Janie his feelings, Janie’s reaction was that he must not be thinking right because it was night, he told her it was not so, but she was not persuaded, then he left. She thought he was gone for good. But the next day in the afternoon he showed up on her doorstep. This action, and those words (quote above) were a symbol of true love. He was ready to stick with her for life. Which he did until his death. Shortly after their marriage Janie found her money gone, along with Tea Cake. But he came back, and he earned her money back and never asked for any of hers. He had fun with her and she was his pride and joy. He treated her the way she should be treated, he even saved her life, and this action later took his. Janie told Pheoby “Tea Cake ain’t wasted up no money of mine, and he ain’t left me for no young gal, neither. He give me every consolation in de world. He’d tell ‘em so too, if he was here. If he wasn’t gone” (8). The words and actions of Tea Cake coming back symbolized his true love toward her, after Janie accepted him his love it was expressed though out the whole rest of the book, and this true love was Janie’s dream.
5) “Then Tea Cake came prancing around her where she was and the song of the sigh flew out of the window and lit in the top of the pine trees. He could never be dead until she herself had finished feeling and thinking. The kiss of his memory made pictures of love and light like a great fish-net.”
Tea Cake’s actions and words were a great symbol of his love. These words symbolize how deep Janie’s love for Tea Cake was as well. He would never be truly dead until she herself was. She had found her dream, she had experienced love and she would always remember it.
This passage is a great symbolism of Janie’s life. Her dreams came true later on, but they were fulfilled, they were not “mocked to death by time” (1). This passage symbolizes that some people do not go and live their dreams; time creeps up and destroys them. Janie realized time could take away her dreams, she had given up on her dreams with Landon, but along came Jody and a new hope came. With Jody her dreams and desires were once again put to the side. Then came Tea Cake, he was able to make her dreams come true, her biggest of all; he showed her true love could be possible they were a living exampl. He made her dreams come true, and by this she was satisfied.
2) “Janie saw her life like a great tree in a leaf with the things suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone. Dawn and doom was in the branches” (10).
This passage is a great symbolism to the whole book. The novel reveals sufferings that Janie experiences. She had to go through her whole life without knowing her parents, she was bitter with her grandmother, she was pushed into a marriage and promised she’d find love which did not come, she married Jody and suffered from his tight rein on her, not allowing her to do harmless things she desired, and then greatest of all was Tea Cake’s death. But with Tea Cake she experienced true joy and love, she was truly happy with Tea Cake, he treated her right. She was able to do things she dreamed of that had not been done. The tree symbolized her life.
3) “Phoeby Watson didn’t go in by the front gate and down the palm walk to the front door. She walked around the fence corner and went in the intimate gate with her heaping plate of mulatto rice. Janie must be around the side” (5).
This passage symbolizes Janie and Pheoby Watson’s friendship. She didn’t bother going through the front door, she helped herself around that back knowing Janie well enough to know that is where she would be found. This shows their friendship is deep. Throughout the novel Janie would go visit Pheoby about problems with Jody, and then Pheoby went to visit Janie when people noticed Janie was showing interest in Tea Cake. Here they are at the “end” of Janie’s journey with Tea Cake and Janie tells Pheoby her story, Pheoby gladly offers her time and listens.
4) “Thought Ah’d try git heah soon enough tuh tell yuh mah daytime thoughts. Ah see yuh needs tuh know mah daytime feelings. Ah can’t sense yuh intuh it at night” (126-127)
Tea Cake told Janie his feelings, Janie’s reaction was that he must not be thinking right because it was night, he told her it was not so, but she was not persuaded, then he left. She thought he was gone for good. But the next day in the afternoon he showed up on her doorstep. This action, and those words (quote above) were a symbol of true love. He was ready to stick with her for life. Which he did until his death. Shortly after their marriage Janie found her money gone, along with Tea Cake. But he came back, and he earned her money back and never asked for any of hers. He had fun with her and she was his pride and joy. He treated her the way she should be treated, he even saved her life, and this action later took his. Janie told Pheoby “Tea Cake ain’t wasted up no money of mine, and he ain’t left me for no young gal, neither. He give me every consolation in de world. He’d tell ‘em so too, if he was here. If he wasn’t gone” (8). The words and actions of Tea Cake coming back symbolized his true love toward her, after Janie accepted him his love it was expressed though out the whole rest of the book, and this true love was Janie’s dream.
5) “Then Tea Cake came prancing around her where she was and the song of the sigh flew out of the window and lit in the top of the pine trees. He could never be dead until she herself had finished feeling and thinking. The kiss of his memory made pictures of love and light like a great fish-net.”
Tea Cake’s actions and words were a great symbol of his love. These words symbolize how deep Janie’s love for Tea Cake was as well. He would never be truly dead until she herself was. She had found her dream, she had experienced love and she would always remember it.
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