geoffs+eyes

Reflection: I began reading the novel and was completely wrapped around it. When it started I began feeling sympathy for janey immediately. I just didnt like how the girls were gossiping about her. I see alot today how people spread rumors in todays society and i can just see and imagine what people go through when you have ex-friends making up rumors about you just because of the simple fact that they dont like you. Also the story that nanny told janey about when she was in slavery sent a chill through my whole body as I read. The fact that she had to make a decision for her and her daughter that could both result in slavery is absolutely terrifying. I already in the first 2 chapters have a tremendous amount of respect for nanny and i cant wait to read further into the novel.

Connection: Alex haley roots is my connection to the novel. Just theway the people speak, the slavery story, and the terms of wisdom. It just brings the movie to my mind. I have no reason why, and im sure there is other connections i could make but i feel this one will re occur later in the novel

March 17 Reflection: In my reading of chapter 3 and 4 i discovered a little bit about Janey. I think its safe to say that she has a good conscience, and is serious in her persuit of happiness, and love. I think a easier way to think of it would be like comparing a woman who was in a marriage to a billionaire, and her leaving for true love. Now Mr.Killicks was no millionaire, but given the time period and the fact that in the african american society at this time she has what alot of african americans pray for. Nanny makes a statement somewhat like this in chapter 3. With that being said i feel i like Janey alot as a character. But im so worried for so many people. How can Janey leave Killicks like that? I mean the fact that he is so old and kinda needs her to fall back on. Or the fact that Janey chose what she wanted over her dead grandmothers wishes, which were to marry Mr. Killicks. I agree with her because it is her life, but i mean if she loves and appreciates her as much as it seems then you would just think that she would obey that last request from her.

Connection: I feel since Janey is about to embark on a journey for true love and happiness, that a great connection to this is the "Pursuit of Happiness". In that movie Will Smith plays a man who has a son and has hit rock bottom. He takes a journey with a goal to become a stock broker through a internship program he is in. I think we will see a similar situation and journey with Janey.

March 22: In my reading of chapter 5 I was left with my mouth completely wide open, and my heart in my stomach. I could not believe how Joe was treating Janie. Everything was in the alignment that would lead you on to believe that things were going to be perfect between them. I guess i didnt realize that the fact there names sound nice together, or the physical attraction was there, or the idea of him being better that mr. Killicks are not reasons to jump off the deep end for someone. Its kind of hard to realize the situation that she is in, but we soon learn she is in another marriage in the beggining of chapter 5. Did Joe Starks ever ask? and if so did a proper ceremony take place? He is so inconsiderate of her, and selfish. I feel for Janie because she is just looking for love. She is looking for someone she can call her husband and say it with pride and without any regret in her voice. I hate to say it but i only see her journey getting tougher.

connection: I chose this picture because this is the exact role that Joe starks has in mind for Janie. he has no other plans for this but her, and sees nothing wrong with it. Depending on how she reacts in the following chapter will tell us a lot about her as a woman.

March 24: In the reading of Chapter 6 i was left feeling sad. The fact that there are men out there that put there hands on women really devastates me and puts me in an angry mood. That mood also came over me once i read she was slapped by Joe on page 63. Joe slapping over a not well prepared dinner, and not even giving any room for explanation just shows how little respect he has for janie. I on the other hand cannot wait to see how Janie gets away from Joe. When she was happy with Mr. Killicks she left so why is it taking her so long to do the same for joe? it has been 7 years and she has not made or any moves towards her goal of happiness. I think that Hurston is trying to say that sometimes people stay in situations for more than just themselves. an example of this is that although that she may dislike joe, she likes the people in the town she is in.

Connection: for my connection i wanted to bring up the mule and the buzzards. Like I said in my critical analysis the mule represents any form of change that people take pride in. The buzzards are people trying to keep things the way they are and dont believe in change or see things any other way. My connection was Abraham Lincoln, and Dr. King because they both were making monumental changes that not everyone agreed to and they were huge reasons of why they were assassinated. March 25: In chapters 7-10 I can see a spark growing inside of Janie. She is beginning to realize how she is being mistreated, and the true reason comes into light. In chapter 7 pg 78-80 Janie completely demolishes Joe and his man hood. And i loved every word of it. I was sitting there reading it saying to myself "Yes Janie!!!! keep going". But at the same time i was wondering in the back of my mind what was joe gonna do to her after her tirade was over. And just like i suspected he struck her. Janie realizes in chapter 7 pg 77 that joe only picks at her because he feels bad about how he looks and wants someone else to feel just as bad. I feel that Zora Hurston is trying to tell us that in life no one wants you to be happy and doing good. For every person that wants to see you succeed, there are 3 more hoping you fail.

Connection: I hate to make this connection but this relationship reminds me so much of Ike and Tina Turner, in Chapter 7 alone. So i made my connection to the movie through the fact that Janie sits there and takes it and tries to be better for joe but its simply not good enough. Then one day she stands up for herself. Very similar to the relationship of Ike and Tina. Ike after seeing how big Tina gets in her show business and success begins to all of a sudden mis treat her. The movie captures it all and stars Angela Basset and Laurence Fishburn.

Chapter10-11-12 This particular part of the story made me happy, and worried at the same time. I feel that i was proud of Janie for finding a new somebody that she can relate with and treats her well. On Page 95 when tea cake asks her to a game of checkers is a symbol for change. Change in the fact that no one has ever asked her to do such a simple thing. Joe certainly didnt, and that made Janie "glow inside" on page 96. Teacake sound good from the reading but you can only wonder if he will treat Janie like the beautiful woman she is. If we really think back Joe starks seemed like such a marvelous man from the comparison of her previous husband Logan Kellicks did he not? But that only brought us into another relationship that did not have janies best interest. Teacake however does many touching and impressive things that give Janie a rush of excitement. Something that Janie is not used to since her life up until this point had been so colorless. I feel That Hurston is making several connections herself but in general is showing and teaching her readers about relationships in general. She is making it obvious by pointing out flaws and janies reactions to each and every flaw so readers are able to see how these mistakes can affect the one that you love and care for, if love was even there from the start. Connection: I feel that a good connection to this could be the movie Pretty woman, but only in the sense of the relationships between both characters. The movie is about a man who is a wealthy lawyer, and pays a prostitute to spend a week with him, but they soon fall in love. Yes the roles and situations are different but in the movie the lawyer (Richard Gere) starts to look past the fact that the women ( Julia Roberts) is a prostitute and starts only seeing her for her true beauty and personality. I possibly see the same thing happening for Janie because of the fact that she is looking past the fact that Teacake may not be wealthy, or a wise choice if your considering age. But she may end up choosing him for the simple fact that they enjoy each-others company, and teacakes feeling for Janie could actually be real. P.S. age aint nothin but a number.

jl

Chapter 15-17: I am not back to fearing for janie again. I hate these chapters because they totally destroy every secure feeling that janie had. The feeling she had when teacake would never leave her or cheat her, or ever beat her. All are gone now. In chapter 15 a woman named nunkie flirts with teacake. this is just an overeaction of janie becuase she has such strong feelings for teacake. On pg 137 she finds teacake and nunkie wrestling in sugar cane. Then it says that teacake stood there shame faced. I think that the fact that he was ashamed of his actions shows nothing took place on teacakes part and that it was all the doings of Nunkie. Following that in chapter 17, people like Mrs. Turner are interesting, in how she herself is black but hates blacks and thinks low of them. On page 141 she says " i cant stand black niggers". And also somthing that really made me angry is that teacake beat Janie. In this novel power is demanded over a woman. and the only way to gain that power is by beating them? Why is power demanded over the person you love? Zora Hurston is struggling to bring this point across and to make it clear that in life people will doing anything they can to get and keep power. Even if that meant hurting the one you lovel

Connections: To connect my ideas i want to use the novel and movie " The color purple". I feel that in this movie power over women is used the exact same way, and retrieved the exact same way. The dialect, the personalities and everything are such exact comparisons, but you only can see for yourself and realize it by watching the movie or reading the novel.



Chapter 18:This chapter was very exciting, and i feel it is a very strong example of how strong the love between the 2 of them is. Janie being close to drowning, and attacked to death by a dog. Teacake all of a sudden comes and saves her life, and she later thanks him for that. Teacake loves Janie and shows it in ways her two previous husbands would find impossible. It is some what safe to say that Teacake in regards to his love for Janie is not in any comparison to her first 2.

Connection: For my connection i wanted to link it to the titanic. The way that the people of the town stood behind and stayed no matter how rough they heard the storm would be was very traditional. LIke when the captain in the titanic did not attempt to flee his shio after it was bound to sink and would for sure die. Such acts of pride and tradition are lacking in todays society, and although they may seem idiotic and stupid, its good to see from time to time.



Chapter 19, 20: This part of the book completely shocked me. More so the whole situation with teacake. I couldn't believe that Teacake reacted the way he did. The rabies taking over his state of mind obviously makes it known that it was not his true feelings and mind thinking for him. More sympathy should be geared towards Janie more than anyone. Her luck with men is just horrendous. Its as if she is on some type of a curse ever since the dismissal of Logan Killicks. Zora Hurston is telling her audience pretty much karma exists.

Connection: When reading these chapters i was immediately reminded of Jennifer lopez movie that she starred in " Enough". The plots arent the same but the endings are. Jennifer lopez murders the man she married and had a child with because he had intentions on murdering her. Janie had to murder Teacakes based off the fact that due to his recent illness he was going to murder her. In this situation is was "kill or be killed" and for both characters they made the wise choice benefitting them.