Natalie Fein

Expanded Journal
Entries
Chapter 2
Janie was stretches on her back beneath the pear tree soaking in the also chant of
the visiting bees, the
gold of the sun and the panting breath of the breeze when the inaudible voice of it all
came to her.
In this sentence it marks the beginning of Janies spiritual and sexual awakening.
The connection between the bees and flowers shows Janies vision of love and
realization. Hurston uses imagery as well as comparison to not only convey the
setting around Janie but give the readers a clear view on Janies emotions. This
passage suggests that Janie desires something deeper and by the end of the novel
we come to find that it is love. Towards the end of the novel the words that Janie
states in chapter 2 come to make sense and tell a more meaningful story of self
desire and worth. The connection between bees and flowers marks the vision of
love Janie has.
Chapter 6
Its de strongest thing dat God ever made, now. Fact is its de onliest thing God every
made. He made
nature and nature made everything else.
These sentences are from a debate between Lige Moss and Sam Watson on the
porch of Jodys store. This is where we truly see Janies perception and the
understanding of her surrounding world. Sam and Lige argue about God in relation
to themselves. Lige claims humans are taught everything they know but Sams
argument claims that there is synchronization between humanity and the
surroundings around them. When it states He made nature and nature made
everything else shows the depth of the conversation and how this could change the
perception of god in many ways. Throughout the novel Janie overcomes obstacles
and you see her realization of what the world really means to her.

Chapter 3
"You aint got nothin to be shamed of, honey, youse uh married oman. You got
yo lawful husband same as Mis Washburn or anybody else!" (3.10-12)
Early on we see that the womens role in this day and age is very different to
todays lifestyle. In nannys eyes a women must bear her husbands children and
respect him. A womans worth is defined by the man. Janie does not see this as a
threat and continues to be an independent woman. When it states Youse uh
married oman it shows Nannys comfort in Janies feelings when explaining she has
nothing to worry about because she has a man, which in case it is what Janie is
most worried about. You see

Janies confidence in this while Nanny tries to scare and threaten Janies ability to
have a husband Janie
does not take what nanny says into consideration.

Chapter 5
"Aint never seen no sich uh colored man befo in all mah bawn days. Hes gointuh
put up uh store and git uh post office from de Govenment."
This was right after Joe buys 200 acres of land from Captain Eaton and Eatonville
was shocked at Joes wealth, and goals. They treat Joes success as if it was a
surprise, being they live in a very racial time and people hadnt seen such success
coming from any other race besides white often. Joe shows that your race doesnt
need to constrain your aspiration or financial success. I chose this quote because it
uplifts all assumptions you might have and give the reader a clearer understanding
of the issues that surround being a African American in that day.

Chapter 16
It was inevitable that she should accept any inconsistency and cruelty from her
deity as all good worshippers do from theirs. All gods who receive homage are
cruel. All gods dispense suffering without reason. Otherwise they would not be
worshipped. Through indiscriminate suffering men know fear and fear is the most
divine emotion. It is the stones for altars and the beginning of wisdom. Half gods
are worshipped in wine and flowers. Real gods require blood.
Janies trip to the horizon requires her to experience the first hand struggles of two
husbands, as well as shooting her third, and a hurricane. She accepts it so that she
may experience the completeness of life. Mrs. Turner looks up to her false gods
because they give her some sort of power over her friends. The narrators
description, in the paragraph just below the above quote, of her wish for an army,
terrible with banners and swords, illustrates the built up anger and sense of
cockiness that Mrs. Turners isolation gives her. It is this pleasure in pain that
pushes her to respect gods who dispense suffering without reason.