In the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston Janie Crawford dreamed of a love which resembled a pear tree from her childhood. The pear tree was simple, sweet, and symbolized reciprocal love. Through her journey to discover this ideal love, Janie encountered people who failed to tie her down and control her and their own fate. However, despite multiple characters attempting to control their fate, the hurricane scene reveals that none of the people had or will ever have any control over their future. Jody Starks is but one example of a character who tried to control his fate. Jody attempted to manipulate his environment and relationships to his liking in order to improve his own image. When Jody married Janie, it was not because
…show more content…
He controlled Janie by giving her more freedom than Jody did, therefore implying that she was his equal. Throughout her entire life, Janie had never been in control of her own life. Janie had let other people make her decisions for her and rarely stood up for herself. The decisions Tea Cake made for her while they were married all contributed to giving her more freedom. Contrary to Tea Cake, when Janie was married to Jody, he refused to teach her how to play checkers, as Jody believed that women should not be playing the same games as men. The day that Janie met Tea Cake, he taught her how to play checkers because he “wanted her to play” and “thought it natural for her to play” (92). These parallels between Jody and Tea Cake have already shown how their perspectives on control varied. In addition to teaching her how to play checkers, Tea Cake taught Janie how to shoot a gun, as he believed that she should know how to defend herself (124). This gives Janie the power to become an even stronger woman, as Tea Cake taught her how to use the weapon that induces death. Janie would have not had any of the strength that she had unless Tea Cake was there controlling her. However, the controlling of Janie took a turn for the worst when she shot Tea Cake, using the power that he had taught her to
He controlled Janie by giving her more freedom than Jody did, therefore implying that she was his equal. Throughout her entire life, Janie had never been in control of her own life. Janie had let other people make her decisions for her and rarely stood up for herself. The decisions Tea Cake made for her while they were married all contributed to giving her more freedom. Contrary to Tea Cake, when Janie was married to Jody, he refused to teach her how to play checkers, as Jody believed that women should not be playing the same games as men. The day that Janie met Tea Cake, he taught her how to play checkers because he “wanted her to play” and “thought it natural for her to play” (92). These parallels between Jody and Tea Cake have already shown how their perspectives on control varied. In addition to teaching her how to play checkers, Tea Cake taught Janie how to shoot a gun, as he believed that she should know how to defend herself (124). This gives Janie the power to become an even stronger woman, as Tea Cake taught her how to use the weapon that induces death. Janie would have not had any of the strength that she had unless Tea Cake was there controlling her. However, the controlling of Janie took a turn for the worst when she shot Tea Cake, using the power that he had taught her to