Xani+TEWWG+blog

__ Chapters 1-2 __

Hurston is way more flowery in her writing then I expected. I enjoy reading it, but it's almost as if there are too many literary elements; when I'm explicating I don't even know where to start! I really like the rhetorical devices that Hurston presents when Janie sits under the pear tree and admires nature in all its simple glory. "From barren brown stems to glistening leaf-buds; from the leaf-buds to snowy virginity of bloom. It stirred her tremendously" (p 10). I think that this evolution she sees in the tree is something that we will also see in Janie as she becomes a woman.

There is so much background about Janie's childhood that I keep forgetting that she is really on her porch years later telling all of this to her friend Pheoby. It seems that she had a tough start in life, having no parents raising her. But I think that her grandmother is taking good care of her. And at first I wasn't sure if I liked the grandmother, but she grew on me when I came to realize that she only wants the best for Janie.

The way that Janie turns to the outdoors for comfort reminds me of Pocahontas. Both have the inherently keen connection to nature. They seem to be more in tune with their surroundings than the people around them, and rather than go to other people for assistance or guidance, they look to nature. As Janie sits under the pear tree, Pocahontas similarly goes to mother willow.



__ Chapters 3-4 __

I'm really enjoying the story so far, although the huge difference between the dialogue and narration throws me off sometimes. I love Janie! I think she's strong-willed and wont settle for a mediocre life. I was relieved when Janie left her husband for the man that she believes she will actually love. It's not good to be tied down and let your dreams become impossibilities.

I think this theme of following your dreams is a major part of the novel that we will see many more times. I want to relate it to the story of Thumbelina.Even though no one ever thought Thumbelina could really go anywhere besides her own front yard because of her size, she was determined to find love and happiness. She had to trust in herself and take initiative in creating the life she always dreamed of. Soon after taking the first few steps, her new life took flight. And so Janie must also leave behind the expected life of a southern black woman and live the life she always wanted.



__ Chapter 5 __ I enjoyed this chapter, probably because it seems that the plot was moving faster with the new town and new people. I personally like Joe Starks for the most part. The more I like Joe, the less I like Janie's complaining. Though I still like the character Janie, she just gets annoying. "On the train the next day, Joe didn't make any speeches with rhymes to her, but he bought her the best things the butcher had" (34). So what if he doesn't sweep you off your feet every day? He's still good to her and she should just let him be excited about his new project, so to speak. Maybe she'd have the right to complain if she had gotten to know him before marrying him.

On a different note, I think that Hurston did a great job with presenting the theme of women rights through the scene with the speech.

I'd like to connect this to something other than Disney/cartoons, but nothing else comes to mind. So Janie's situation reminds me of Belle from Beauty and the Beast. The idea of Joe only wanting Janie as a trophie wife, or a symbol to the townspeople, is similar to the way that Gaston only wants Belle because she is the most beautiful girl in town. He wants Belle's beauty to reflect how good looking Gaston is. Just as having a young, pretty wife will make Joe look very successful to the townspeople.

**My picture was here, then something went crazy with the technology and now it's gone... I'll get it back asap.**

__ Chapter 6 __

This chapter begins to reveal Joe's true character. Turns out he's a total sexist who bosses Janie around because he believes that women can not think for themselves. Grrr!

Hurston implements a ton of great rhetorical devices in this chapter also, Especially in the section when Janie describes her realization that she is unhappy with Joe.

This reminds me of a song from the play Wicked. It's called Defying Gravity and the main character sees that it is finally time for her to live her own life in order to achieve her own happiness.I can't wait to see what Janie is going to do about Joe, I hope she confronts him and gives him a piece of her independent, intelligent mind!

"Something has changed within meSomething is not the sameI'm through with playing by the rules of someone else's gameToo late for second guessingToo late to go back to sleepIt's time to trust my instinctsClose my eyes and leap  It's time to try Defying gravityI think I'll tryDefying gravityKiss me goodbyeI'm defying gravityAnd you won't bring me down

 I'm through accepting limits'cause someone says they're soSome things I cannot changeBut til I try, I'll never know  Too long I've been afraid ofLosing love, I guess I've lostWell if that's loveIt comes at much too high a cost  I'd sooner buyDefying gravityKiss me goodbyeI'm defying gravityI think I'll tryDefying gravityAnd you won't bring me down"

__ Chapters 7-10 __

There is so much packed into this section of the book. To me, it is split up into two parts: death and birth.

The death is obviously the death of Jody. I officially stopped liking him through chapter 7 as the years passed, he became more cruel and Janie more submissive. I was so excited when Janie finally spoke her mind and let out all of her built up emotions!

The death also represents Janie killing the accommodating routine that she ended up in. Once Jody was ill and he could no longer physically harm her, the playing field was even; meaning Janie was just as capable of fighting back with words. She was like, "Hey Jody, suck my diction!"

Now Janie's new found freedom gave her the ability to be born again into her own self. The symbolic releasing of her hair made me smile. I was also glad to read that she continued running the store, proving me wrong when I thought that she was basically a lazy sissy. And on another note, it is good that she isn't giving any new suitors the time of day; you go, girl!

Although... I do like Tea Cake thus far :) And it would appear that Janie does, too. But I have a bad feeling about what misfortune will surely happen to them, judging by the foreshadowing situation in the exposition of the book.

If I can't think of a better connection by tomorrow, I will connect this section to the song "Ridin' Solo" by Jason Derulo. These lyrics illustrate Janie's new found freedom. Although Janie's emancipation a little more dramatic than Jason Derulo's breakup considering it was the death of her abusive husband. The words that are highlighted are the ones that I saw directly relating to the story. And I think these are things that could be going through Janie's mind as she looks in the mirror and sees that she is till beautiful.

I'm feeling like a star, you can't stop my shine,  I'm loving cloud nine, my head's in the sky,  I'm solo, I'm riding solo,  I'm riding solo, I'm ridin solo, solo.

 Yeah, I'm feeling good  tonight, finally doing me and it feels so right , oh, Time to do the things I like , <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> going to the club everything's alright, oh,

<span style="background-color: #ffff80; color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">No one to answer to, <span style="background-color: #ffff80; color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> no one that's gonna argue, no, <span style="background-color: #ffff80; color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> And since I got the hold off me, <span style="background-color: #ffff80; color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> I'm living life now that I'm free, <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> yeah,

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> Telling me to get my s%*t together <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> now I got my s%*t together, yeah, <span style="background-color: #ffff80; color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Now I made it through the weather <span style="background-color: #ffff80; color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> better days are gonna get better

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> I'm so sorry that it didn't work out <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">I'm moving on, <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> I'm so sorry but it's over now, <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> the pain is gone,

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> I'm putting on my shades <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> to cover up my eyes, <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> I'm jumpin' in my ride, <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> I'm heading out tonight, <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> I'm solo, I'm riding solo, <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> I'm riding solo, I'm riding solo, solo. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> I'm feeling like a star, you can't stop my shine, <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> I'm loving cloud nine, my head's in the sky. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> I'm solo, I'm riding solo, <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> I'm riding solo, I'm riding solo, sooloooo.

<span style="background-color: #ffff80; color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Now I'm feeling how I should, <span style="background-color: #ffff80; color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> never knew single could feel this good <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">, oh, <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> Stop playing miss understood, <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> back in the game, who knew I would, oh, <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> So flex <span style="background-color: #ffff80; color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">how I spread my wings, <span style="background-color: #ffff80; color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">loving myself makes me wanna sing <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">, oh,...

__ Chapters 11-14 __

I really enjoyed this section; Tea Cake is adorable! I'm glad that Janie realizes that she deserves a man who treats her better than Jody used to. But some aspects of this new relationship are odd to me. Like how Tea Cake steals her money, but she forgives him because he gambled to get it back? Wow, what a catch. I think it is dangerous to fall so in love before you really know someone because then you will forgive anything they do. And Tea Cake's continual disappearances are suspicious as well. I wouldn't put up with that, for sure.

The struggle between lovers of conflicting social statuses reminded me of the movie Lady and the Tramp. Lady is a dog from a wealthy home who has always had a sheltered and comfortable life with the other fancy pure breeds. But then she meets Tramp, a sly stray dog from the alley ways and dumpsters who turns her world upside down. At first Lady looked down on Tramp because of his background and probably smell. But she eventually fell in love with that mutt and she had to choose between following her heart or following her mind. Like Janie, Lady chose to share her luxurious world and his exciting one. Janie's choice was whether or not she should listen to the advice given to her by the townspeople. The shallow townspeople told Janie that Tea Cake was too low for her, but Janie realized that what is important is how happy she is.



__ Chapters 15-17 __

I was not too pleased with this section for a few reasons. I was shocked with the character Mrs. Turner. She's crazy! I'm not too sure why Hurston put her in the story. Maybe she just needed to be the catalyst to Tea Cake hitting Janie. I was freaking out on the inside when I read this "Ah didn't whup Janie 'cause she done nothin'. Ah beat her tuh show dem Turners who is boss" (148). Tea Cake is on my bad side now. And for me the greatest downfall of this section is Janie. I was so disappointed that she just took the senseless beatings from Tea Cake and never fought back or defended herself. She was even cuddly with him the next day "﻿The way he petted and pampered her as if those two or three face slaps had nearly killed her made the women see visions and the helpless way she hung on him made men dream dreams" (147). You can't just beat some one up and the next day act like nothing happened and everything is okay! Is this really the kind of freedom that Janie wanted?

I want to connect Mrs. Turner to a character from the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The main antagonist of the film is Judge Doom, played by Christopher Lloyd. In the movie, cartoons and humans can coexist. The Judge Doom has an extreme animosity for the toons for no reason other than a prejudice. Interestingly, at the climax of the film, we discover that Judge Doom is actually a toon! Why he hates his own kind is unclear. That reminds me of Mrs. Turner because she is partially black and yet she can't stand black people. She is just as racist as the white people. Prejudice is a crazy thing on its own. But one would not expect to find people who are prejudice against their own kind. I find the psychology in it intriguing.



__ Chapter 18 __ Wow, what an action-packed chapter. There's really not much to say about it because only one thing happened really, and that is the hurricane. I really liked the analogy Hurston used, "If the castles thought themselves secure, the cabins needn't worry" (158). I think that does a great job at showing their logic, that if the white people were staying, then surely there's no real danger. I always love when the namesake of a novel makes its way into the story. So subtle, but it stood out so much. "They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God" (160). Love it!

I am going to connect this chapter to a scene of the movie Hereafter. This is not a great connection, I must say, but the reading reminded me of it. In the beginning of the movie, a french journalist, Marie, is on vacation when a hurricane suddenly strikes. As seen in the picture, Marie frantically runs through this market place in a pretty useless attempt to outrun the massive amounts of water in the background. i thought of this when I was trying to picture Janie and Tea Cake desperately trudging through the water to find safety. I wonder if in moments like these you realize that what you're doing may be no match for the hurricane, but you have to do something. What would be going through your mind?



__ Chapters 19-20 __ There were a lot of different emotions in this reading. First, I was relieved that Janie and Tea Cake survived the horrifying storm together. But the grave digging was freaky. Next, I thought it was kind of hilarious how motor boat slept through a hurricane. For a while I was hopeful that Janie and Tea Cake could rebuild their happy life, but it was not to be. The decline of Tea Cake's health was so sad. I think that Janie should have told him what was wrong with him; I don't understand why she didn't. Moreover, why didn't she just unload the stupid gun??!?! Ugh, Janie was so on my good side, but she still does the most foolish things sometimes. Her odd ways of handling Tea Cake frustrated me. Also, when he pulled the trigger twice, why didn't she try running or fighting or firing the shots at a wall just to waste the bullets? ...Oh well, what's done is done and Hurston wanted it that way. At least the foreshadowing from the beginning of the book makes a lot more sense now. I can see why Janie returned to Eatonville. It's awful how all of Janie's "friends"(perhaps in exception of Pheoby) seemed to only like her because she was married to a popular guy, both with Jody and Tea Cake. Once her husbands died, she lost all of her friends in whatever town it was at that time. Now it is good that Janie gets a chance to live for herself and make a name for herself in Eatonville.

I loved the line, "Ah done been tuh de horizon and back" (191) when Janie is speaking to Pheoby. I'd like to connect this quote to the movie Sinbad. In this animated film, the thief Sinbad is not highly thought of amongst his people and when he is accused of stealing a very important item (the book of peace), he must sail past the horizon to retrieve it and clear his name. On his journey, Sinbad finds love and discovers a great deal about his true character. This reminds me of Janie and her journey through life. Nobody had high expectations for a black woman in the time of the novel. Throughout Janie's life, she proved to herself that she is more than what society labels her as, and when she has reached the horizon and back, she is comfortable enough with herself to be content in Eatonville.



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