Symbol

The hurricane is a symbol of how corrupted the world is. It made Janie and Tea Cake and the others question themselves and make decisions. Just like if corruption in the world happens to us or somone close to us like it has to me. This symbol is close to me having lost people to wars and battles and having to fight a battle myself. The hurricane makes the characters wonder if God cares about them and if they are in conflict with the world around them. This got me to thinking about my life at the times I questioned God as well. And at the times I questioned myself and my conflicts wondering if I could have done something better or something more helpful. A hurricane can't think for itself and it can't feel, so it makes you think about the choas caused by people who can think and feel.

   (made by spacerip on youtube (with a little bit of editting) (original video called cosmic journeys: super hurricanes))

Joe 'Jody' Starks

First impression of Jody, which is the nickname Janie gave to Joe Starks, was that he would make a better husband to Janie than Logan because he seemed to actually care. At first he got my respect and I figured he would be a good person especially for Janie and a new town. He did turn out to be a good person for the new colored town but turned out to be a pitiful husband to Janie not letting her do the things he did. He became mayor of the new town and ran a store where people could buy things instead of having to go to other places, but all he wanted out of Janie was a wife that he could boss around and show off. He didn't think women had a mind of thier own and wouldn't let Janie talk to the others except for the buisness. I despiesed that he cared more about being a mayor and the store than Janie. In the end I was sad for him because he died since he didn't see a doctor early enough because he didn't think he needed one. I don't like his judgement because he used a gypsie instead of a doctor and he misjudged Janie. They ended up not being the best spouses for eachother since Janie was trying to find herself and was a bit selfish and all Jody wanted was a wife. My first impression of Jody was completly wrong since in the end he completly rejected Janie.

(artsouthernstyle.com )

Setting

The setting of the story is back when slaves were just becoming free and were trying to survive and find work and places to live for themselves. But the setting was in a few diffrent places in Flordia: Eatonville and the Everglades being the most important. I thought the all colored town in Eatonville was gonna be this new, up and out going town full of only colored people. I was supprised to be only half right, the town was new and only had colored people but it wasn't completly up and out going yet. I was weary of the Everglades at first because I thought it would hurt Janie and Tea Cake's relationship but it actually made it stronger and helped Janie find herself and be content. I'm still a little scared of the Everglades because the hurricane that caused them to move to higher grouds and come into contact with the rabid dog. Now I'm happy Janie is back in Eatonville where she belongs with her friends and is content by herself.

(marinersguide.com)

Theme

Love and Relationship versus Indepence is something most people can relate to. My reaction to it was that if you find the right love and relationship you can find independence too. Jody and Logan didn't let Janie have independence since they wanted her to work or as a trophy. Alot of people get involved in relationships including me that has no actual love and no independence in it. This can make people miserable as it did Janie and me so I related to her on every level. When she found Tea Cake though he encouraged love and independence within the relationship allowing her to choose to do things for herself  and loving her all the same no matter the ups and down, also they loved eachother till the end. Janie is back home and instead of missing Tea Cake she still feels that he is with her and is content and statified and comfortable with her independence. I hope to find that kind of relationship someday and Janie's story gives me hope since men and women are thought of as equals by alot of people now, so women get alot more chances at independence these days just tyring to make it work with a relationship that also has love in it is the hardest part. But Janie didn't give up so it gives me the stregenth and determination to not give up either.

(blog.realin.co.in)

Motif

God is the motif which I come to learn by the end of the book. God isn't only god but, all the forces and nature and Janie's spirtual quest. This makes me look a little diffrently about how God was thought of in the past as diffrent things and not just one huge big being that has all kinds of powers like we think today. It makes me realize that God is actually in all things natural beautiful or dangerous, since he created it all. Janie's spiratual quest to find out who she is and make peace with the world matches mine since i'm still looking for myself as well. In the book the horizon is the end of the world which gives me a better understanding of their time and Janie's journey.

 

 

(samdevdiary.wordpress.com)

Conflict

Janie struggles to find her idenity as do most people, including me, so when I got to the end of this book and realized that was the conflict I was glad that I had read the book because it gave me courage to find my own identiy and to go on my own journey not matter what happens. Other characters in the story are constantly trying to mold Janie into what they want her to be their worker, their trophy, etc. Janie lets them because she doesn't know better and thinks letting them mold her will help her find her life, love, herself and her independence. The reason I like Tea Cake so much is because he doesn't try to mold her and actually gives her a chance at life, love, herself and independce. This gives me courage to find a husband just like that. My reaction to the conflict as a whole is that no one should be molded to others ideals since its not the other person's ideals and everyone should get a chance to find life. She finally finds love and content on her journey and that helps me think I probably will too some day.

   (by the Dixie Chicks)

Plot

My reaction to the plot of the story which is an african american woman trying to find herself on a journey and find love within her mirrages. I realize alot of people including me do the same thing so I feel myself relating to her. Her first husband Logan who she doesn't really want but her nanny wants for her so she doesn't become a 'mule' or woman slave to some man only wants her as a helper not a lover which happens to some people who love the same job and they just want someone to help them and be there with them everyday to help them rather than to be their lover. Janie follows Jody when she meets him because she thinks he will be diffrent since he has a dream of going to an all colored town and at first seems to care about her. It turns out Jody only wants her as a trophy wife to show off and only allowes her to do what he tells her to do and nothing else. This also happens in alot of relationships especially in ones that are to soon and both people or one person aren't ready or when the couple or one of the couples only wants to show off that he/she has a girl/boyfriend or wife/husband to friends. At first she wonders about Tea Cake but then he starts to get her to warm up to him with the guitar and sweet words, in this relationship she actually finds love even though they have thier ups and downs as it should be with any actual relationship. She also finds herself and is content with herself at the end of the story even with everything she's gone through. I can even relate to the kind of relationship shes had with Jody and her journey since i'm still on mine, that's why I admire her, she was able to find herself.

Plot from wikipedia.