Miller presents a strong case, however he overlooks some crucial characteristics and therefore arrives at the wrong conclusions. Ironically, Miller recognizes that “marriage is somewhat of a contractual agreement”; but he overlooks the fact that both Starks and Killicks did not respect their half of the contract. Initially, Killicks was treated Janie with respect and left her to do her work in the house while he took care of the manual labor. After a while, however, he begins to note that “if [he] kin haul de wood heah and chop it fuh yuh, look lak you oughta be able tuh… grab dat ax and sling chips lak uh man” (Hurston, 25) . Kilicks recognizes that chopping wood is a man’s job according to the conventions of that time, but he still demands that Janie
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Rather than continuing his role as provider and protector of Janie, he “sat and laughed …[and] would hustle her off inside the store to sell”(Hurston, 51). Tea Cake was the only one of the three husbands who fulfilled his duty towards Janie responsibly. He insists after their marriage that Janie is “gointuh eat whutever [his] money can buy yuh and wear de same.” (Hurston, 122). True enough, Janie does start to work on the fields with Tea Cake, but she does that willingly and not through coercion. What’s even more important, however , is that Tea Cake recognizes that Janie has left her position in the house to help her out, so when “Janie got ready to pick beans along with Tea Cake… Tea Cake would help get supper afterwards.” (Hurston, 127). This is of course, not to say that Tea Cake and Janie had a perfect relationship, there are points in the novel when Tea Cake, as Miller points out, “exhibits plenty of other negative masculine traits” (Miller, 79). However, their relationship is not compromised of complete domination and submission as it was with Starks and Killicks, rather it is a less severe form of
Rather than continuing his role as provider and protector of Janie, he “sat and laughed …[and] would hustle her off inside the store to sell”(Hurston, 51). Tea Cake was the only one of the three husbands who fulfilled his duty towards Janie responsibly. He insists after their marriage that Janie is “gointuh eat whutever [his] money can buy yuh and wear de same.” (Hurston, 122). True enough, Janie does start to work on the fields with Tea Cake, but she does that willingly and not through coercion. What’s even more important, however , is that Tea Cake recognizes that Janie has left her position in the house to help her out, so when “Janie got ready to pick beans along with Tea Cake… Tea Cake would help get supper afterwards.” (Hurston, 127). This is of course, not to say that Tea Cake and Janie had a perfect relationship, there are points in the novel when Tea Cake, as Miller points out, “exhibits plenty of other negative masculine traits” (Miller, 79). However, their relationship is not compromised of complete domination and submission as it was with Starks and Killicks, rather it is a less severe form of