TEWWG....GabbysBlog


 * __Their Eyes Were Watching God __**   ﻿﻿   ﻿Hurston blew me away. Judging on the background and history of her life and the novel, I understood she was educated but her meteaphors and allusions on the first page alone were outstanding. She made me think and as I read on I began to wonder more. I have a gut feeling the main theme of this novel will and shall be Men vs. Women in society and I am completely confident that Janie Mae will be the best candidate to represent women. I truly feel for her yet her situation doesn't bring her down. I do not know if it is because she is use to the lifestyle and society around her or she just deals with it. But at the same time she doesn't seem to accept anything around her. She chooses to make her "dream the truth" and I admire her mindset and strength.   As cliche as it may seem I automatically connected the novel to The Color Purple. Being the same time period as Their Eyes Were Watching God, tons of connections can be made but one of the most important may be the role woman play in society. They seem to be a product used to be traded off among families and men to ensure stability and comfort in their life despite the fact that it seems women of this time period can not make any choices towards their own lives.  ﻿   

Chapter 3 and 4  These two chapters saddened me. I feel Janie lost all hope in her dream and I just feel sorry for her. She is married to a man who gives her no attention when all she is looking for is love. Then when temptation is thrown her way, I don't blame her for going towards what appeals to her. I just wish she wasn't so naive listening to a man who proposed to her and do not even know her. This reading reminded me of young girls (and in some cases men) on the internet. People choose to believe what they see and look past the fact that they really dont know who they are talking to. Individuals pick and choose what they like for others to see just like Joe Starks. Joe chooses to tell Janie what she wants to hear and shows what he wants her to see. Just like predators on the world wide web. 

**Chapter 5**   ﻿ Joe (Jody) Starks must be the smoothest man alive in this time period. He can flash his money and his smile, say a couple words and he has the world in the palm of his hand. "The town had a basketful of feelings good and bad about Joe's positions and possessions, but none had the temerity to challenge him" (50) including Janie. Jody is able to make Janie do whatever he says and Janie accepts this. She obeys every order he barks. I find this funny for she left Logan for this same fact. Throughout this whole chapter I thought of the movie Enough with Jennifer Lopez. She is in a horrible relationship yet she stays for the stability and comfort of the rich and lavish lifestyle. Although the main character knows she must leave it takes the extreme to give her the motivation to do so. It makes me think, although Janie's relationship is clearly not as bad what will it take for her to speak up and shut Jody up.

**Chapter 6**   ﻿This chapter infuriated me. Im all for equality and women's rights and Joe Sparks does not believe in any of it. He wants a stay at home wife who will do what he says. When he tells her Jody wants Janie to obey. Seems to me Jody wants a dog, not a wife. Throughout this whole chapter I kept thinking of A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. A lot of you already read his book the Kite Runner and this story takes place during the same time period, the peak of Al Qaeda activity. A young girl, Laila, lost her mother and father to a stray bomb and was forced to live with Mariam and her husband Rasheed. Soon she becomes the second wife. At first Laila was showered with gifts and outings with Rasheed while Mariam was left at home. Yet Mariam knew the pattern for she went through the same thing herself. The gifts and affection will stop and abuse will begin. Laila and Mariam shared the domestic violence Rasheed rained down on them. It was only a matter of time before they fought back. I made this connection for Janie went through the same thing. She was given the best and anything she wanted from Jody but all that changed in soon time. Just like Laila and Mariam, Janie suffered from domestic violence and boredom in her life and her dysfunctional marriage. There is no way Janie could ever be happy. ** Chapter 7-10 ** ** ﻿ ﻿The end is here!!! Janie finally stands up to Joe (although it is on his death bed) and tells him how she feels. And for the first time in their 20 years of marriage, Joe gets to see the kind of person she really is. As you can tell this is my favorite part of these few chapters for this is what I have been waiting for. I just love how Janie just seems to be free after Jody dies. She lets her hair down, looks in the mirror, and finally see's her self for who she really is. Not for what Joe Starks wanted her to be. She just had enough. ** ** The prime connection I made throughout these chapters towards Janie's breaking point. This is the point where she had enough and had to make a change. Her breaking point was Jody not speaking to even on his death bed. But "every woman has a breaking point". Which is a line from the song I connected to. Breaking Point by Keri Hilson. (the lyrics are below) ** Every woman, yeah Every woman Gotta limit yeah Sang with me girl

Ladies, have you ever had a man who push you when you low You wanna stay out at night, and don't care how you feel Instead of manin' up, oh I said ooooooooooooo I-I can't concentrate, you so petty you You stay touchin' my last nerve, my friends say what's wrong with you girl I guess, what I'm really tryna to say is

Every woman has a breaking point ya'll (breaking point) Hey, I know you know, some women can be lied to And cheated on, and beated on Somebody know, heeeeeeyyyyy Every woman has a breaking point ya'll (breaking point) Hey, hey, hey, hey, tell me why we put up with that You can't forget that, see I done did that But this time, there's a limit to my love (There's a limit, there's a limit...there's a limit, there's a limit) There's a limit to my love (There's a limit, there's a limit...there's a limit, there's a limit) Now listen here

Now baby, don't push me cuz I'm close to the edge Today your baby momma called, said she boxin' up yo sh!t (yo sh!t) When you barely pleasin' me, how you gon take care of yo kids Now I gotta contemplate, I hate to say it but I wanted your last name My momma said what's wrong with you girl

Every woman has a breaking point ya'll (breaking point) (And I'm almost there I swear) Hey, I know you know, some women can be lied to And cheated on, and beated on Somebody know, heeeeeeyyyyy Every woman has a breaking point ya'll (breaking point) Hey, hey, hey, hey, some women let you keep em in check

[ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/breaking-point-lyrics-keri-hilson.html ]

Constantly disrespect, then show no regret (Around here honey) there's a limit to my love (There's a limit, there's a limit...there's a limit, there's a limit) There's a limit to my love (There's a limit, there's a limit...there's a limit, there's a limit)

Now ladies, we really should be mad at ourselves Cuz see, some women just tolerate way too damn much Now I know we gotta choose our battles But damn it, every woman gotta breaking point And see the next time he's testin' yo love You put your finger in his face and you tell him

Say my love has a limit (say my love has a limit) Say my love has a limit (say my love has a limit) Said if your love has a limit, girl (said if your love has a limit) Say my love has a limit, yeah (say my love has a limit)

Say my love has a limit (my love has a limit) Say my love has a limit (my love has a limit) Said if your love has a limit, girl Say my love has a limit now

Every woman has a breaking point ya'll (breaking point) Hey, I know you know, some women can be lied to And cheated on, and beated on Somebody know, heeeeeeyyyyy Every woman has a breaking point ya'll (breaking point) Hey, hey, hey, hey, if you feel me put your hands up If he ain't man enough, girl if you had enough Tell him, there's a limit to my love (There's a limit, there's a limit...there's a limit, there's a limit) There's a limit to my love (There's a limit, there's a limit...there's a limit, there's a limit)

**Chapters 11-14**   Honestly throughout this entire chapter I was scared and nervous for Janie. I was protective over her and cautious for her. I don't know if it is just me and how I am or if I just feel that is how Janie should be, but I wish Janie would watch what she is doing. She may think she knows Tea Cake and feel like she has known him all her life but he is till a mysterious a man and she is a woman. Age my be just a number but that number reflects your mind and the years it took to mature. I feel Tea Cake is not that mature. But maybe that is exactly what Janie needs. Someone to bring her youth out of her. Or maybe she just needs to grow up. I don't mean to be a Debbi Downer on this whole situation. And yes I know that Janie just might be in true love and taking a chance is all she needs to do but if you ask me, trusting a man you never met or know this soon to this extent is a big chance to take. This brings me to my connection. Trusting someone you think you know. And the perfect movie to illustrate that is the movie For Colored Girls. Many of you may not have watched it, and if you have your probably saying "Gab, that's a REALLY extreme connection". But none the less it is a connection and a possibility Janie could have faced. In For Colored Girls, a young woman lets herself become wooed by a young man. He is attractive and successful. He walks her home and to work everyday for two weeks straight till the young woman agrees to go a date. He takes her to an expensive restaurant, walks her home, then states his idea: maybe they should have a home cooked dinner at her house. She agrees to his idea. Of course. The day comes for their date at her home. She invites him up and the worst (maybe even beyond worst) happens. Yes I understand that my connection is REALLY extreme but I just couldn't get it out my head as I read. Janie's connection with Tea Cake scares me. She just trusts him WAY to fast. And the fact that her instincts kicked in various times in this novel really worries me. He is able to get her to push her gut feelings to the side. I just hope and pray I am wrong and Tea Cake is a good man and everything goes fine.

**Chapter 15-17**  ** ﻿TEA CAKE!! As you all may know I despised the idea of Tea Cake. Just everything about him screamed SHADY and SNEAKY! But then my feelings for him went on a rollercoaster ride. One Chapter Im in love with him. Next Chapter I hate his guts. For example the situation with Nunkie. It just seemed funny that she was always throwing herself all over him and he never stopped her. Then the whole incident when Janie caught them behind the cane. At first I was sketchy but then I believed Tea Cake. He really loves Janie. "You'se something tuh make uh man forgit tuh git old and forgit tuh die." So adorable. But then two chapters later I cant STAND him again. What was the point to hit Janie? Then BRAGG about it? Just to show that she is his. Janie is his property in Tea Cakes eyes. UGH. Once again I don't like him. ** ** MY CONNECTION: Everyone seen the classic "women throwing himself at the man who doesn't want her because he loves his significant other" scene. Its in movies, TV shows, and even novels. Then Tea Cake goes through the same scenario. Nunkie throws herself at him but he refuses to act on the opportunities she gives him. Which reminds me of an episode of Martin. In this episode, Gina catches Martin alone with his old crush (who happened to be his elementary school teacher). Little does Gina know, Martin refused to take the opportunity but Gina did not believe a word he said. Till she soon put the pieces together and realized that Martin was telling the truth. All was forgiven (a catfight almost happened) and Gina learned to trust Martin. Just like how Janie learns to trust Tea Cake. No matter how shady he seems. *eye roll* UGH **



Chapter 18 **
 * In the beginning of the chapter I noticed something odd. All signs pointed to a hurricane and Tea Cake refused to believe or listen. He decided to stay on the muck. The animals disappeared and went to safety. The indians went east. Lias is leaving and offering a seat for Tea Cake and Janie. But Tea Cake still because "de white folks ain't gone nowhere". How could you believe someone (the white folks) who does not have as much history, background, and knowledge as a reliable source (the Indians). This reminds me of an episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Now before you get on me for being a huge fan of this show finish reading. On one episode Ang and the group stop at a village for rest and shelter. In this village, a fortune teller is the main go to person in their tiny society. Everyone relies on her answers so much to the point that they don't even decide what they are going to eat without asking her. At one point in time, Ang witnesses himself the volcano on the horizon. Even when he tells everyone in the village, they do not believe him only because the fortune teller reader twigs. TWIGS! People rely on the wrong sources and wait till the very last minute to wait for help. Sucks. **

Chapters 19-20 ** ** ﻿These final chapters really hit me. I felt for Janie and Tea Cake and their travels through the storm proved to me that their love was real. I am not going to lie, I did doubt Tea Cake but he proved me wrong. I was on the edge this entire reading and my suspense was satisfied. Janie killing Tea Cake was the shocker of the AP class I believe and I hated every moment of it. I wanted Janie and Tea Cake to last. We all knew from the beginning of the novel it would not but to happen like this was crazy. The trial must have been the most agonizing time for Janie also. It would have been nerve racking to have to deal with that experience. But Janie is strong and way stronger than I believed and I applaud her for that. ** ** When Tea Cake went crazy he was not himself. It was his body but it was not his mind and spirit. Janie only killed Tea Cakes body, not his soul for his soul was long gone. This state of mind reminds me of the classic Amityville Horror. Most of you seen the classic and remake of the movie and know the plot pretty well. In this giant house in New York haunted by evil spirits the men of the family get possessed and do not act themselves. In the original case, a boy by the name Ronald Defeo killed his family in their sleep one by one with a shot gun. Thirteen months later the Lutzs move in and leave 28 months later for they were being tortured by spirits which kick started the movie. In the movie, a man and his family moves into the house in Amityville. As time goes on in the house, the father becomes possessed. Its his body but not him. He tries to kill his family with an ax as they narrowly escape with protection of a shot gun.His family cannot kill him for their protection for they feel it his still him. Janie was in the same situation only she realized it was not Tea Cake trying to kill her. She knew Tea Cake's love for her would not enable him to do this. Tea Cake was not Tea Cake anymore. Janie had to kill him for her own protection. **