Their Eyes Were Watching God DQ #2

Throughout the first half of this novel, we learned of the beginning stages of Janie's journey through self discovery, freedom and self actualization. We have had the opportunity to follow her through some of the toughest times in her life, up to the point of chapters eleven through twenty. As she began her transformation into womanhood Janie internally fought through the oppression of a string of relationships that all played keys roles in the expansion the plot. Janie endured not only a learning process, as her life unfolded, but also a major growth period. Explain this growth.

Considering our background knowledge at this point in the novel, discuss the changes that occured in Janie's life throughout the second half (chapters 11-20) of the story and their relevance. Discuss how and why Janie changed holistically (including personality, beliefs and even actions) as well as how she ended up full circle, back to the same restraints in happiness that were present throughout the beginning of the novel.

In compiling your response, consider what Janie thought would be her window to happiness versus the way her life has turned out as well as her experienecs with happiness. Provide an intellectual response that can be supported by the text. Feel free to utilize quotes and remember that all answers are to be posted in complete sentences.

Note:

After the initial response, you must post at least two responses to an answer or answers that are not your own.

0 members like this

Replies are closed for this discussion.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Maria Mijares on September 10, 2010 at 7:49pm

What Janie thought would be her window was marriage, because she thought that if she was to be married there would automatically be love. Later on, she found out that just because one was married didn't mean there had to be love, or love had to be created. After all the men she was with &experiencing so many, i guess you could say diff. relationships, she noticed that.

Permalink Reply by Dyneshia Malone on September 11, 2010 at 2:20pm

That just goes to show that people shouldn't just assume.

Permalink Reply by Dyneshia Malone on September 11, 2010 at 2:08pm

The growth period is simply Janie growing into her womanhood and becoming independent. Nanny made it clear that she was too old to still be trying to raise Janie. She also made it clear that without anyone around to watch Janie Janie wouldn't know how to behave or protect herself. through through the first half of the story Janie was being recless and immature, then she came into some growth. I haven't read the second half of the story...... Yet.

Permalink Reply by Ashley Wallace on September 12, 2010 at 4:31pm

As Janie re-engaged herself in other relationships, she sought out more oppurtunities, such as to live out her youthful ages in her life, to gain freedom, and to hopefully find the true love she had been longing for since childhood (teen years). When she got with TeaCake she found a whole new outlook on men in general. She found that not all men like to be in complete control and that some men like to take chances that include their "better halves". TeaCake opened new doors and realities for her.

Permalink Reply by Alyssia Yarbrough on September 12, 2010 at 5:19pm

Janie grew after each realtionship. She started speaking her mind and stop letting people treat her any kind of way. But even after her growing after the realtionship she still wasnt really open about many things that was own her mind. She started to notice what she wanted in life. Such as love and freedom

Permalink Reply by Gary'sha Brown on September 13, 2010 at 2:10pm

I agree she did grow and also learned from each relationship.

Permalink Reply by Maria Mijares on September 14, 2010 at 8:32am

I agree with this because she did learn more about how love, or at least what she thought was love, is. She just noticed everything too late. Like her relationship with Joe, she didn't realize what kind of a man he was in reality until he began putting her down after time. &i also agree that what she wanted in life was Love and Freedom.

Permalink Reply by Jasmine Louden on September 12, 2010 at 8:37pm

Chapters 11-20 is when Janie finds freedom, relief, and happiness. Tea Cake opens doors for her he gives her new experiences and room to make her own decisions. He was the first man to actually consider her feelongs and thoughts he let her be her own own while still being a good wife.

Permalink Reply by Jasmine Louden on September 12, 2010 at 8:39pm

I disagree with a Alyssia she didn't grow after each relationship she just found a new escape in her pursuit to find happiness and love. She left her first not because he was a abuse or because he wasn't a good provider only because she thought she had found true love with Jody Starks.

Permalink Reply by Jasmine Louden on September 12, 2010 at 8:44pm

I also disagree with Zachary she finds freedom and being loved. She has always been searching for freedom to just be loved, even though her grandmother showed her nothing but love. I believe her grandmother made her think she could find love in a woman by marrying her off so young and by not giving her a choice. This also lead to her entrapment, letting other people decide her decisions.

Permalink Reply by Gary'sha Brown on September 13, 2010 at 2:09pm

During different relationships she showed different amount of freedom. It also showed how she matured from her youthn hood to her elderly hood. Janie was always beautiful, but during different relationship. During Logan she was free but really wasnt gettting alot lot of attention.During Jody he meantion she was beautiful but let his jealousy get in the way. Last but not least Tea Cake showed her she was beautiful but when Tea Cake was on his sick bed he showed her different.

Permalink Reply by Ashley Marie Elkins on September 14, 2010 at 5:12pm

Janie had a hard time because everybody kept looking down at her, she feels like she have no family in her life. I don't know how she can do all of that drama, she is strong and beautiful. Mrs.Turner was trying to hook up her brother with Janie. The only good person in the story was Phoeby her best friend.