Janie
Janie is an interesting character.
She has struggled her whole life to find independence from others, but cannot
find it because she is expected to have someone controlling her at all times.
She first realizes this when her grandmother tells her not to kiss anyone
because she’s liable to be a woman soon and should be married to Logan
Killicks. Then, when she goes to marry Joe Starks, she realizes that although
she is wealthy, she is distant from her partner, unlike how she envisioned love
to be. She is never free, constantly forced to be a fixture in the town store,
even though she yearns to join the others in playing checkers and talking about
the mule. Once Joe dies, she is finally free – until Tea Cake arrives. While he
doesn’t force her to do anything, unlike Joe, he dictates to her some things.
He tells her to wear blue, as he finds her pretty in it. Tea Cake doesn’t
control her in the same ways as Joe did – Joe controlled her with his wealth
and his words, while Tea Cake controls her with his love and actions. When she
does what he wants her to, he will comb her hair or help her in doing some
task. Janie searches for freedom, but will she ever find it?
