Once this quote has been "analyzed to death" suggest a new quote that addresses this same theme.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
First BLOG Post E Bell - due August 27th
Once this quote has been "analyzed to death" suggest a new quote that addresses this same theme.
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Janie’s quest to find true love and fulfillment in life develops to become a center of the novel. Unfortunately, Janie’s path to discover her soul mate and fulfillment in life immediately deviates from its path due to Nanny’s ambition to find a safe and secure place for Janie in the world instead of letting her become the mule of the world. Nanny takes note of black women’s disadvantages in society, especially being the mule of the world for everyone above them on the totem pole. Nanny has this reasonable concern for Janie due to her and her family’s history through her own experiences by growing up around the period of slavery and therefore recognizes how black women are usually treated with no respect or dignity, but are still expected to perform the duties of those above them. Adding to Nanny’s skepticism to the black woman’s predicament is the memory of how she was taken advantage of and left with no outlet after the issue she had with her master. Nanny simply wants to put Janie in a position where she does not have to be the mule of the world and at the lowest level of society like she and most of the other black women had to during her life span. However, Nanny’s actions to help Janie avoid being the mule of the world actually puts her in that exact position when Nanny makes Janie marry Logan Killicks in hopes to allow Janie to live a comfortable life free of degradation. Eventually, Logan begins to treat Janie as property and a fellow worker instead of a wife with respect, which is evident when Logan states, “Come help me move dis manure pile befor’ de sun gits hot. You don’t take a bit of interest in dis place…You ain’t got no particular place. It’s wherever Ah need yuh. Git uh move on yuh, and dat quick” (31). Logan has no desire to have Janie as a loving wife treated with respect, but rather as a mule doing all the work on the farm, just as Nanny described. Overall, Nanny’s desire to give a better life for Janie actually overpowers Janie’s own desire to find fulfillment and happiness, forcing Janie to surrender her own desires to appease Nanny.
ReplyDeleteJanie's journey to self-fulfillment through three marriages is to discover what it is that makes her truly happy. Throughout her childhood, Janie is raised with the misconception that marriage and protection guarantee a loving relationship, as demonstrated by the opening to chapter 3: "Janie had no chance to know things, so she had to ask...Did marriage compel love like the sun the day?" (Hurston 21). Janie asks herself these questions prior to her marriage with Logan Killicks, which Nanny arranges so that Janie can avoid the typical life of a black woman: the life of a mule. Obviously, this plan backfires as Logan does treat her as a mule and a possession. However, there is much significance in Nanny's justification (as quoted above). The quotation reveals that Janie's search for fulfillment has up to this point been decided for her by her upbringing, and it illustrates the innocence of Janie's perception of marriage. Nanny decides what is best for Janie without her consent. The situation proves that Janie has no idea what she truly wants at this point in the novel. Although Nanny is just looking out for her granddaughter, the marriage is a complete failure. However, Janie's marriage with Logan is an important stage in her search for realization. The marriage teaches her that she does not want to be ordered and that she wants independence. In addition, it teaches her that marriage does not always guarantee love like her Nanny raised her to believe.
ReplyDeleteJanie's search for fulfillment is that she was raised to believe that money and status were the ultimate goals in life. Because Nanny grew up as a slave and will never have money or status, she wants what she thinks is the best for Janie. Nanny combines both of her experiences as a black person and a woman and believes them to be the worst in society. Even after the Civil War, she can't shake off the slave image, especially since she is employed, and thus in someway under the rule, of white people. Also, women during Nanny's time were to be subservient to men. What Nanny says still proves to be true in all of Janie's marriages. When she was married to Logan Killicks, Janie was fulfilling Nanny's goal in life and was at first pampered. However, as time wore on, Logan grew tired of this, and simply treated her as a farmhand at his beck and call. This caused Janie to run away with her second husband, Jody Starks. Jody seems to love Janie and promises to treat her nicely, until the power of being the Eatonville mayor gets to his head and he becomes abusive and domineering. He doesn't want people to value Janie more than they value him or for other men to catch Janie's attention. Even the Eatonville town members recognize that he treats her badly because, when Jody falls deathly ill, Pheoby tells Janie that a rumor was going around that "...ever since the big fuss in de store dat Joe was 'fixed' and [Janie] wuz de one dat did it" (Hurston 82). Once again, Janie achieved Nanny's goal of power and money but was not satisfied for herself. Both of Janie's first two husbands in the end treat her not as a wife but as a lowly employee. When Janie meets Tea Cake, her third husband, she genuinely loves him until he dies. Then, she feels complete and at peace. Even though her third husband loved her until he died, he still was abusive to her at one point, just to show the other men of the Everglades that he could handle his woman. By doing this, he reasserts what Nanny said about black women, by making sure everyone (including Janie) knows he is the boss of Janie since he is the man in the marriage. He whipped her "not because her behavior justified his jealously, but it relieved that awful fear inside him. Being able to whip her reassured him in poossession...he just slapped her around a bit to show he was boss" (Hurston 145). At the end, although Janie's satisfaction differs from what Nanny thought it should be, the quote from Nanny proved to be true even for Janie's true love.
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ReplyDeleteJanie’s search for fulfillment was culminated by the death of Tea Cake, but in all three of her relationships, she had to work in one way or another. When she was with Logan Killicks he forced her to work in the fields every day, and she was miserable. But that wasn’t the only time she had to work like a mule. Jody made her work in the store, and she worked with Tea Cake in the fields. The only time she wasn’t miserable while working was with Tea Cake. That’s because he didn’t force her to work with him, she chose to do it because she loved him. That is why when Nanny said, “De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah can see. Ah been prayin' fuh it tuh be different wid you. Lawd, Lawd, Lawd!” (29) doesn’t mean that the work is what gets in the way of Janie’s quest for fulfillment, but it is being forced to work that makes her miserable.
ReplyDeleteJanie had to work her whole life just to find what she really wanted. She was raised by her grandmother, Nanny, who explained to her that women should be married off so that they could be financially secure and safe. Nanny did not want Janie to end up like her mother who was raped. Nanny arranged a marriage to Logan Killicks when Janie was around seventeen. Nanny explained to Janie, "'Tain't Logan Killicks Ah wants you to have, baby, it's protection."(14) At first, Logan is kind to Janie, but he soon wants her to work in the field with him. During her first marriage, Janie is left wondering what is love and does it come with marriage. Once she meets Joe Starks, she leaves Logan and goes to Eatonville. Joe at first is also kind to her, but the marriage eventually becomes corrupted. While married to Joe she must work in their store with her hair tied up. Once Joe had died Janie celebrated, "'Tain't day Ah worries over Joe's death, Pheoby. Ah jus' loves dis freedom." (89) Janie had felt trapped with Joe. He treated her as an object. After Joe, she married Tea Cake. Tea Cake was Janie's biggest obstacle to over come. She loved Tea Cake like no other. This is what she was looking for, true love. However, in order to find herself and stop being a "mule," Janie had to kill him. It took all of her strength to kill him. She made her way back to Eatonville a new person. "Now, dat's how everything wuz, Pheoby, jus' lak Ah told yuh. So Ah'm back home agin and Ah'm satisfied tuh be heah. Ah done been tuh de horizon and back and now Ah kin set heah in mah house and live by comparisons." (182) She had worked her whole life for this moment. The moment in which she was free of men and work. She could finally sit on the porch and do what she wants without a man telling her to.
ReplyDeleteJanie's quest for fulfillment is evolved through the mariages to three men in the novel. Nanny only wanted the best, or what was thought to be best, for Janie. Nanny says "De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah can see. Ah been prayin' fuh it tuh be different wid you. Lawd, Lawd, Lawd!"(29). Nanny took the first chance she got to marry Janie to a man of higher stature, Logan Killicks in order to prevent Janie from becoming this mule Nanny feared for her. As soon as Janie is forced into manual labor for Logan she runs off with another man, Jody, to escape. No matter what she does though, Janie is still somehow forced into being this undesired mule. Janie only wished for one thing and that was true love. Although it took many years and two mariages she finally found it, preventing her from becoming the mule. The relationship contained a few beatings, but she never was the mule she was in past relationships. When the relationship had its forced ending, Janie finaly is sucesful in her fulfillment, and no longer will be a mule. Nanny stated "But nothing can't stop you from wishin'. You can't beat nobody down so low till you can rob 'em of they will"(16). Nanny, although forcing Janie into unwanted situations, only wants the best for her, and tries to help Janie the best she can and the only way she knows how; as any mother wishes for their child to have a better life then theirs.
ReplyDeleteClayton Poffenberger
Janie's grandmother searched to fulfill her dreams through Janie. All her life she had been a slave a "mule of the world" as she saw it, and that, "it wasn't for me to fulfill my dreams..., but nothin' Ah been through ain't too much if you just take a stand on high ground lak Ah dreamed" (hurston 16) And Janie does get everything her grandmother wanted her to have from Joe Stark. She's well taken care of, even if the marriage lacks love. She is able to sit in a "big house" all day and dress in fancy clothes and have security. but as Janie tells Pheobe, "... he wanted me tuh jes sit wid my hands folded and sit dere.and Ah'd sit dere wid de walls creepin' up on me and squeezin' all de life outa me." (Hurston 112)
ReplyDeletewhen Janie had everything her Grandmother wanted her to have she was empty, but when she was working alongside Tea Cake she came back to life. all she really wanted was to be loved and acknowledged and able to make her own choices about life even if it meant she had to work. She isn't afraid of hard work, just of being smothered and forced to be something she's not.
Rachel Chung
So far, superb comments! For those of you that still need to post by midnight tomorrow, how about discussing men for a bit and how society's perception of their role shapes how they feel they need to treat women. It will be interesting to see how this new perspective might lead us to see things a bit differently.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the novel Janie searches for her fulfillment through love. Janie's grandmother tries to protect her from experiencing what she went through during her childhood. Nanny didn't want Janie to go through what she went through as a child. She saw herself in Janie and seeks her own fulfillment through Janie. Nanny believes times haven't changed and women are still the mules of the world. Nanny decides that Janie should marry Logan Killicks for financial security and protection. Although Janie does not agree with this marriage, she does marry Logan because it's what her Nanny wants her to do. Janie figures even though she may not love him at first that “husbands and wives always loved each other, and that was what marriage meant. It was just so. Janie felt glad of the thought, for then it wouldn’t seem so destructive and mouldy. She wouldn’t be lonely anymore.” (Hurston 21) Logan pampered and showed Janie love at the beginning of their marriage, however, Janie found herself working on the farm, like a mule, which proved that Nanny's plan for Janie to have a successful marriage failed. This proved that women were still treated like mules, and Logan began to treat Janie like a piece of property. Janie, however, seeks a way out by running to Joe Starks and her search for fulfillment begins again through another marriage.
ReplyDeleteIn the U.S in particular, society expects a man to be the stereotypical masculine image that is frequented on by most television shows and movies. They are expected to posses both physical strength and strengh of will, and to also remain disconnected emotionally, though recently there has been a certain trend towards idolizing the "sensitive" male in pop culture. This image,being forced upon the male sex from an early age, gives a false sense of dominance to many men and a need to qualify themselves to this standard. This results in a slew of male bravado and acts of "dominance" over their peers that often extends to their families and even to the opposite sex. Like Jody from Their Eyes Were Watching God, many men feel that women are similiar to trophies, and the prettiest trophy gains the most respect. Other men feel about women as Logan Killicks does, and see them only as a tool to use to their advantage. Both ideologies stem from the unrealistic societal expectations of men.
ReplyDeleteIn Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston portrays african americans, who are constantly trying to win the approval or be their caucasian contemporaries. This leads the african american community to attempt to fit into narrow gender roles. Men should work in the fields, and women should work in the house, if they work at all. Because Janie was raised on a farm surrounded by white folk, she grew accustom to strict gender roles. Her first husband, Logan, did not grow up in the same fashion as Janie. Therefore, he aspected his wife to work in the fields and do manuel labor. Janie, however, would not tolerate working. She told Logan,"If you can stand not to chop and tote wood Ah reckon you can stand not to git no dinner"( Hurston 27). Strict gender roles lead Janie to marry her second husband Joe Starks. Joe had a traditional southern mindset, where the male dominates society. Janie had a comfortable life with him. All she was aspected to do was sit and look pretty. This did not fulfill her, though. She became annoyed at Joe because she believed, " Uh woman ... place is in de home" (Hurston 43). Janie was relieved after his death. Ironically Janie find happiness with Tea Cake. Tea Cake instead of forcing Janie to work in the field, gave her the option of working in the field. When Janie broke the desired gender roles of society, she found happiness and true love. Men and women both struggle to fit into society's social standards. Men should be dominate and strong. Women should be delicate and submissive. Their Eyes Were Watching God shows the negative result on both sexes if one attempts to conform.
ReplyDeleteA man's role in the United States is supposed to be one of masculinity. In today's society a "man" should not cry or show emotions. Men believe they should behave and follow the John Wayne role. Society made it acceptable for the average man to be like John Wayne, a masculine, tough guy, who takes care of his family. Men are looked at it many ways but overall the stereotype is that men are the provider in the family. A man is suppose to provide economically for their family and provide security while the female or wife does all the cleaning and chores around the house and cooks. Men often feel that women are inferior to them. Janie experienced all different types of marriages and men. Logan Killicks her first marriage was forced upon her and he treated Janie like a tool, he thought she was suppose to be obedient to him like a servant and work in the field as well as do household chores. Jody Starks treated Janie with loyalty but didn't respect her god given rights to express herself. She had to work in the store all day and wear fancy clothes and she wasn't allowed to do anything she felt was important to finding herself. She was expected to be a servant to Jody just like she was with Logan but in a different way. When Tea Cake came along he finally allowed Janie to be herself and find herself. Tea Cake was a man who was not afraid to show some emotions and he loved and cared for Janie like she had never been cared for before. The classic male ideology is that they are all masculine and dominant.
ReplyDeleteThe quote, "De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah can see. Ah been prayin' fuh it tuh be different wid you. Lawd, Lawd, Lawd!"(29), highlights the plight of Janie's cause in the novel Their Eyes Are Watching God. Janie refuses to submit and assume the typical life of an African-American woman during this time period, even with their associated limitations regarding race and gender. In doing so, she denies her male counterparts, and society in general, the privilege of utilizing her as the "mule uh de world." This element of the novel places Janie into conflict with the natural order of society at this time, especially the social order of African-Americans. Janie desires a man that will create a relationship that is a partnership of love, respect, and equality, not economic convenience. She needs a man that will love her for who she is; an independent, free, and singular spirit. During an era in which male dominance prevailed over all else, Janie's chances of accomplishing this are slim. Nonetheless, she never "changes her tune" by succumbing to the standards of society. Like the hit "Settlin'" by Sugarland, Janie won't let her spirit rest by settling for less than the best. Her continued search for a standard of spiritual excellence through her marriages to Killicks, Starks, and finally, Tea Cake, demonstrates this. Even while she depends on men to some extent, one cannot help wondering if things are turned the other way around in Janie's world of feminist heroism; with men being an accessory to her needs!
ReplyDeleteJanie's Nanny told her early in her life that women of color were the hardest working people in the world, essentially playing the role of a mule. Years later, when Janie sees an escaped mule in Eatonville, she sees a reflection of her own station in life. She berates the men taunting it, saying, "They oughta be shamed uh theyselves! Teasin' dat poor brute beast lak they is! Done been worked tuh death; done had his disposition ruint wid mistreatment, and now they got tuh finish devilin' 'im tuh death. Whist Ah had mah way wid 'em Ali." (56). Janie sees a kindred soul, an animal that is abused, overworked, stubborn, and trapped. It this very literal translation puts Janie as Joe's mule, and anyone her tries to dominate her's mule. Joe treats her just as badly as the unique mule was treated by its previous owner, almost as though Joe can see her individuality and wants to suppress it.
ReplyDelete@Shane - extremely thorough start to the prompt with an emphasis on Nanny's role and intentions!
ReplyDelete@Jeff - very important to bring in the roles of the marriages!
@Natalie - love your evaluation of Nanny's quote throughout Janie's marriages and existence! Yes, even in Janie's "ideal" relationship, Nanny's prophecies for women proved true!
@Grant - interesting point about the cause of misery: being forced to work as opposed to actually having to work!
@Maura - Janie definitely lived for the moment of being free from men and work although she didn't really see the "men part" until after Tea Cake's death.
@Clayton - I believe Janie avoided becoming the mule, too!
@Rachel - important point about Nanny's wishes for happiness not actually inspiring that in Janie.
@Kelsey - good analysis of Janie's relationship with Logan.
@Josh - Very thorough analysis of Jody's situation.
@Trisha - absolutely - both men and women struggle with gender identity.
@Will - great breakdown of the roles of males and females.
@Brennan - I like how you brought in the "natural order of society".
@Kelly - yes, I do believe Janie saw the mule as a kindred soul!
Wow!!!! You all have done a SUPERB job!! Can't wait to hear the next set of comments!