At the beginning of her second marriage, everything seems to be all right. Her second husband, Joe Starks, promises to take care of her and to provide her with everything she needs so that she does not have to work. At first, this financial security and traditional divisions of duties do not make her suspect some problems. Joe convinces her that she “a pretty doll-baby lak you is made to sit on de front porch and rock and fan yo`self and eat p`taters dat other folks plant just special for you” (Their Eyes Were Watching God: 29). Janie is attracted to the promise of an easy life, without a need to work. As time passes by, it is clear that she is treated by her husband as a sort of a trophy (Their Eyes Were Watching God: 55). Joe gradually tries to make her stay at home and not to talk with her neighbours and friends.
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In this marriage, she is treated as a decorative object - an ornament completely devoid of feelings. He constantly tries to silence her (Miller, 2004). Whenever Janie tries to rebel against him, her husband resorts to the physical violence: “Don`t you change too many words wid me dis mawnin` Janie, do Ah`ll take and change ands with yuh!...Ah`ll take holt uh data x and come in dere and kill yuh!”(Their Eyes Were Watching God: 30). Joe is convinced that by subjecting Janie to the rules imposed on her, he will be perceived as a strong character, and, what stems from it, he will gain respect in his community (Ickes, 1993: 76). For him, being recognized as a dominant figure in marriage seems to be the only acceptable form of a relationship. Male dominance and a need for superiority are not the only problems in the main character`s second marriage. Not only is Janie perceived as a weaker person but also as an unintelligent one, exclusively because of the fact that she is a woman (Duncan,
In this marriage, she is treated as a decorative object - an ornament completely devoid of feelings. He constantly tries to silence her (Miller, 2004). Whenever Janie tries to rebel against him, her husband resorts to the physical violence: “Don`t you change too many words wid me dis mawnin` Janie, do Ah`ll take and change ands with yuh!...Ah`ll take holt uh data x and come in dere and kill yuh!”(Their Eyes Were Watching God: 30). Joe is convinced that by subjecting Janie to the rules imposed on her, he will be perceived as a strong character, and, what stems from it, he will gain respect in his community (Ickes, 1993: 76). For him, being recognized as a dominant figure in marriage seems to be the only acceptable form of a relationship. Male dominance and a need for superiority are not the only problems in the main character`s second marriage. Not only is Janie perceived as a weaker person but also as an unintelligent one, exclusively because of the fact that she is a woman (Duncan,