Throughout the book, so far I really like Janie's character. Although there are some characteristics I don't particularly like. I really like how Janie's way of thinking is. I really like how Zora Neale Hurston made her character relatable and sensible. Janie isn't the most smartest woman when it comes to making decisions but she everything she does is justified in my mind and very understandable. Like for example, when Janie first met Joe Starks and ran off with him right away. I thought that was a stupid move, but I understand her reasoning behind it. She didn't love Logan Killix. She could not imagine a life with him and she despised many of his characteristics. Also, he was making her do work that she should not have had to do, like splitting wood and other physical work. Although from the beginning I did not trust Joe and knew he was too good to be true, I understand how she was so caught up in the moment and she decided to take a risk. I feel as if many characters in books i read (and many people as well!!) often make important decisions when they get caught up in the moment. I feel like that is what makes life exciting. Life would always be the same song and dance over and over if there weren't some risks to take and some moments to savor. So I am actually really glad Janie took this risk and married Joe, although it didn't really end up well. If she didn't take this risk, her situation with Logan might have gotten worse and Janie would have really regretted not going with Joe. And trust me, if there's one thing I know about regret, it is that regret stays longer and is worse when it is about something you DIDN'T do rather than something you did do.
Some other characteristics I did really like about Janie was that she was able to stand up for herself. She did take a lot of crap from her husband Joe but I really liked the part where she finally stood up for herself when he kept on trying to put her down. I am a feminist and I don't think what Joe was doing and saying to Janie was right at all, especially since they were married for so long. I also like how when after Jody had died, she was always saying she enjoyed her freedom and wanted to stay single and not be with another man because she basically did not even need a man despite the social preferences back then. I really liked this because i could relate to it. I have the same mindset as Janie and it was nice to know that someone shared my ideals of freedom. I mean, yeah I am only 15 and here Janie was almost 40, but I still deeply agree with what she was thinking and it makes sense to me. Again, I am only 15 but I feel as if I do have enough experience with this subject to the point where I can totally understand and relate to Janie's mindset at that time.
So yeah, all in all, I really like and can relate to Janie's character and right now I am really hoping for Janie to make a good decision pertaining to Tea Cake, but I'll have to read on to see.
Thanks for reading!(:
