TEWWG Dialectical Journals #21-30

DJ-21

So he picked out the eyes in the ceremonial way and the feast went on. – Narrator PG 62

The head vulture is a satire of Jody’s pompous leadership. The heade honcho takes the most juicy cut of meat, but the vast majority of the body is left to those under him. They will never reach the pinnacle of fulfillment, but they will never want for anything either. This keeps them in a sort of limbo. It also shows how everything is reduced to dead matter over time.

DJ-22

Then Jody ruined it for her. – Narrator PG 69

Ruining other people’s happiness is a trait of someone who is unhappy with their own selves. This also seems to be a summerazation of Jody’s role in Janie’s life. He ruins her joy, her self-confidence, really her desire for anything.

DJ-23

Dat’s cause you need tellin’ – Jody PG 71

Despite what Jody incorrectly states, Janie has plenty of ideas and thoughts to share. She also has her own way to do things, but because that would mean a certain level of independence, Jody fears it. He fears her intelligence and beauty because it casts a shadow on his own person, so he tries to shame her. The continuation of people putting down others continues. The whites put the blacks down and they tear themselves apart from within, trying to climb to the top.

DJ-24

She got so she received all things with the stolidness of the earth which soaks up urine and perfume with the same indifference. – Narrator PG 77

Humans are not supposed to be immovable rocks, they are born with life. That comes with emotions, but Janie puts on a hard shell to ignore her own emotions regarding Jody. It is a defense mechanism, but it also can crack. Eventually Janie will come out of the shell swinging because she’s intelligent and unhappy with her life. It also composes a part of the Janie-as-earth-mother theme in the book. In her natural state, she is a beautiful fertile tree, in her tense form, she is an unshakable and inanimate stone.

DJ-25

For the first time she could see a man’s head naked of its skull. – Narrator PG 77

Janie is beginning to come into her own. She realizes Jody’s ploy to keep her down and submissive. She now has the first key to reversing her fortune. Knowing her enemy allows her an insight into his pathetic mind.

DJ-26

…for people began to gather in the big yard under the palm and china-berry trees. – Narrator PG 84

This flocking of people brings to mind the earlier vulture parable. All of them sense death and the potential for weakness. The perceived vunrability due to the looming death of her husband is a place for people to try and dig their claws in. Most just want her money or patronage. Janie isn’t really fooled though, she recognizes the vultures for what they are. It is a testament to her intelligence and determination that she essentially ignores the crowding people.

DJ-27

…so busy worshippin’ de works of yo’ own hands… - Janie PG 86

This is at least the third time Janie mentions self-praise in a negative light. This is the kind of confidence that leads to excessive pride and downfall. Janie realizes Jody was victim to this and wants him to understand it as well. As a sort of revenge on him, she unloads all her feelings from the past twenty years of marriage. His neglect to her feelings has left a very bitter taste, but she still goes on. Despite troubles, Janie is left intact and with a sense of honor and dignity.

DJ-28

She tore off the kerchief from her head and let down her plentiful hair. – Narrator PG 87

The return of Janie to her natural state is celebrated in this line. She is full of life and letting down her hair symbolically releases her of constraints. With this she returns to a pear tree, escaping life as a cold rock. It also marks the beginning of her defiance of society. Kerchiefs were her obedience to Jody (man) now she is burning them along with her submission and unhappiness.

DJ-29

Weeping and wailing outside. Inside the expensive black folds were resurrection and life. – Narrator PG 88

The outside can be dramatically different from the inside. For most of Janie’s marriage with Jody, people thought she has happy with him, but in reality Janie resented Jody deeply for his treatment of her. The description of Janie’s soul coming into the world refreshed is similar to that of a new baby coming into the world.

DJ-30

…mourning oughtn’t tuh last no longer’n grief. – Janie PG 93

Janie really hates the idea of false pretense and is tells her best friend about her true feelings with no remorse. Her morality and frankness contrast with the townspeople, who secretly poke and prod and pry at everything. This puts Janie in a very honest and seemingly righteous light.