The narrative switches between Janie and Jody's points of view during chapters 5 and 8, in which their poor relationship is clearly established. Janie is relegated to a life in the store, submitting to her husband's demands that she be quiet and stay in her place. She feels unfulfilled with her role as "Mrs. Mayor," expressing that "Ah feels lak Ah'm jus' makin' time," yet in Jody's mind she should be happy with her position. "Here he was just pouring honor all over her, building a high chair for her to sit in and overlook the world and here she pouting over it!" (46, 62).
Jody is heavily invested in image, as his goal to be a leader is one of the first things he talks about with Janie. Once he accomplishes that goal he makes sure Janie lives up to his ideals of a model wife, telling her she has to stay home from events such as the mule's funeral because it's not a place for a woman of her status to be. Jody also looks down on the townspeople, saying he wishes they would "git mo' business in 'em and not spend so much time on foolishness" (62). However, he's still so concerned about what they think of him that he fears that there is "nothing to do in life anymore" when they agree with what Janie says about him and see that he's being hypocritical (80).
It also seems that Jody wants Janie to entirely belong to him, to have no action or idea that's unique to her; what makes me think of this is the scene where he hears Janie commenting on the poor treatment of the mule, then sends her away to fetch his shoes while he buys the mule and sets it free. The people of the town respect him for doing that, and it seems like he's benefiting from something he didn't completely think of himself. Janie says a few words about it, mentioning how it's an idea "tain't everybody would have thought of" and comparing him to Abraham Lincoln (58). By likening his freeing a mule to freeing slaves, I wonder if Janie is actually undermining Jody's achievement through her praise. He doesn't seem to notice.
Hurston eludes to the possible unhappiness that Janie will experience if she goes off with Jody in chapter 4, when the two have just met and Jody is talking about his ambitious plans.
ReplyDeleteEvery day after that they managed to meet in the scrub
oaks across the road and talk about when he would be a big
ruler of things with her reaping the benefits. Janie pulled
back a long time because he did not represent sun-up and
pollen and blooming trees, but he spoke for far horizon. He
spoke for change and chance. Still she hung back (35).
Janie went with Jody, knowing that he would not fulfill her ideals of love. But what he offered seemed a lot better, and little closer to what love means to her, than anything Logan could offer.
It seems to me like there was a period of time in their marriage where Janie was fulfilled to a certain degree. She thinks that "The bed was no longer a daisy-field for her and Joe to play in. It was a place where she went and laid down when she was sleepy and tired." This implies that at some point she did have fun in bed with Joe, but now after seven years of marriage her she is no longer satisfied with the state of their marriage.
ReplyDeleteThroughout a big part of her life with Joe, Janie was very unhappy. As you pointed out, he treated her as a possession, making sure she always hid her hair in public and often not letting her engage in conversation with townspeople. Reading about how unhappy she was, it was nice to see her enjoy freedom after Joe's death, although with Tea Cake's emergence, I wonder how long this freedom will last.
ReplyDeleteIt's awful how Jody basically objectifies Janie and makes her do exactly as he says. I sort of thought of Janie as being a trophy wife. Even though Jody isn't old, Janie is just viewed as a status symbol. She was like a prize to be won and then showed off to the town.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see how this couple fell apart, after they fell in love so quickly, where was the connection that they first had? Almost as if their marriage meant nothing.
ReplyDeleteIt is really interesting to see how Janie was initially sort of attracted to the idea that she would be "raised on a pedestal" and didn't have to work. Jody promises her that she won't have to be behind a plow ever again. Yet, she feels unfulfilled later and seems to want no part in it.
ReplyDelete