I am excited to read Hurston's book with you. I was never assigned this book in any of my classes, and when I read it last summer I was embarrassed to realize that I had somehow overlooked one of the most amazing masterpieces in our literature. This is one of my favorite books. I am curious to see what you all think. The novel is tight, but perhaps not quite as tight as Gatsby, and I'm afraid you might feel it's a let-down, but I think it is very nearly as intensely written, and Hurston performs much more amazing feats of ventriloquism than Fitzgerald attempts. I hope you end up seeing that this book is as virtuosic as Gatsby, and maybe even more mature, because less ironic.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
chapter 18 - chapter 20
How does this fit with what you thought about how Hurston would head toward an ending?
And once you've finished the book--what did you feel and think?
I am almost surprised that Tea Cake didn't die in the hurricane, but it did provide a new obstacle in Janie's life. This new obstacle is much more physical, and fixable, than the drawn out dissatisfaction of her relationship with Jody. It also seems to be an event that will serve to unify Janie and Tea Cake further, both through the hardship of the actual storm, and through the rebuilding and mourning that will probably become a significant force in their lives, although I don't know if it will be enough to save Tea Cake from a literarily necessary death. I really liked Hurston's description of the hurricane, especially the flooding. The imagery of the sea "walking the earth with a heavy heel" was very powerful. I was a little confused by Motor Boat's decision to sleep in the abandoned house. It seemed like a kind of bizarre decision, and made me wonder why Hurston had Motor Boat accompany Janie and Tea Cake. I'm hoping it will be revisited and his role will be explained further, because as of now, it seems kind of random.
I'm more suprised at how those people could miss the signs of the hurricane. If the native indians, who lived there for generations, decided that a hurricane was coming, oh boy everyone should be doing a massive evacuation, not dallying around...and the animals too. Don't they watch movies? Like come on, if there is anything scary like aliens or freak weather, the animals are THE early warning sign. RUN! Don't just ignore it! :( The storm descriptions on page 158 was kinda cool. "Their eyes were watching God" on page 160. I FOUND IT :) I was happy because TC saved Janie from the dog, so I don't think TC and Janie are going to hate each other in the near future, unlike what we predicted in class xD
The scene where Janie and Tea Cake left Motor Boat was very touching for me - it seemed crazy that they didn't insist he come with them, as if independence was valued over life. I also wanted to hear the end of what Tea Cake was going to say on pg. 151 - it seems like he was going to tell her that he never knew she loved him that much, that he thought maybe someday she would leave him, or was displeased with him. I thought that was really interesting, as he's always been the center of their relationship, not Janie. I'm not going to say anything about the ending as I already know it - only that the hurricane seems like another test of the tenacity of the African-American woman. - Catherine Marris
Reading this chapter gives me this feeling, that people are stupid and stubborn... Or just stubborn that causes actions that are stupid... Something like that.
Before this chapter I was just waiting for Tea cake to do something wrong so that I could say that he was not the right man. Once again I was prooved wrong and He just keeps doing the right thing. I really do believe that Tea Cake is a very nice man and a good husband to Janie. I am not sure how this section will lead into the end of the book. Maybe Janie and Tea Cake will get separated in Palm beach or maybe she finds a new man but I still like Tea Cake. The two made a great escape and it was good that Tea Cake came in and saved the day to top it off.
I'm sure that the events of this chapter somehow tie to Janie's lonely return to Eatonville. I think that Tea Cake is going to die of pneumonia or some water-born illness or from rabies from the dog bite. The part with Janie's near-death experience in the water with the dog was really vivid. The way that Janie saw the mad ferocity in that dog's eyes and the special attention Hurtson devoted to that moment convinces me further that this scene was pivotal. Possibly, I'm just a pessimist, and the only thing this scene represented was Tea Cake's devotion to Janie even in the face of death. - Olga
Like Coco, I was surprised that Tea Cake survived the hurricane. I think the fact that they went through the storm together turned the book into a story about their adventures and their life together. I always thought the ending would focus on Janie and her independence so this really surprised me.
Interesting to see how Hurston thought of the title of the book... She must have titled it after writting this chapter (18). The three of them wait out the storm in the shanty with "their eyes watching God."
Crap! I just lost my whole comment. I'll write it shorter: I think that the storm marked a turning point between the relationship of before, more casual and for love than for the duty of marriage, and now. Now that Tea Cake and Janie have weathered the storm together (with Tea Cake saving Janie's life!) I wonder how their relationship will change. I remain suspicious of Tea Cake; what interest could he have in such an older woman? I hope that the story works out well for Janie, though, because she's such a likable character.
I was surprised that Tea Cake was having such a tough time during the hurricane, while Janie's struggle isn't highlighted as much. After reading the part where Janie tells Tea Cake that she is glad that he is with him, even in the middle of a hurricane I changed my mind about how the story could possibly end. Instead of Tea Cake taking advantage of or being to authoratative of Janie, I think there could possibly be some tragic end to Tea Cake that promotes sympathy instead. The time when Tea Cake saves Janie from the dog fortifies this idea because he is willing to throw his life on the line for her and I think that mentality could bring the death of him in the future.
This goes against the direction I thought the book was going to go. I though that Tea Cake was going to dump Janie and take her money, but this chapter changes my opinion. Tea Cake ends up being the good guy, he saves Janie's life. This show that he still cares and I am interested in the new direction this book is going.
I loved the line, "Havoc was there with her mouth wide open" (158). I think it is true for Palm Beach and for Janie and Tea Cake's story. This is really the first major event of their time together (and maybe even of the book), and I think it will change their relationship, making it stronger because of what they have been through together and the pieces they will have to pick up, but it may strain it as well. I also still think that in order for the book to end in a way consistent with its telling, Tea Cake will have to die, and I was surprised that he didn't in the hurricane but I have a feeling it will be something related to the aftermath that kills him.
As a few people have been saying, i was kind of expecting Tea Cake to die during this part of the story. But I've also been sort of expecting him to die for awhile because of the beginning section, where we learn that something separates him and Janie, and since they love each other so much it must clearly be his death (which is my reasoning, at least). So when he got stabbed gambling as well as his other adventures, I kept waiting for the narrator to tell us he was dead. But this chapter really underscores the love Tea Cake feels for Janie, and it was really touching to see how much he would do to protect her. As Catherine said, I was also really curious about what he was going to say to her when he gets cut off.
Relationship values must've been different back then, since Janie seems to still love Tea Cake, even after all the ups and downs they've had together. It was quite touching how the two stayed together throughout the whole flood, and especially how Tea Cake sprung into action and saved Janie's life. That surprised me a bit, I'll admit, since he didn't come off as that 'caring' to me earlier.
It's even harder for me now to understand why Janie would want to leave Tea Cake by the end of her story. He just shows himself to be a super-man her, saving her life on top of being so amazing. Still though, he controls her nonetheless and I believe that Janie will refuse to be controlled.
I was really surprised by the events of this chapter. Earlier, I was convinced that Tea Cake would die because of his gambling. Now, as Olga said, I think he will die as a consequence of the dog bite. I didn't exactly think that Janie was going to return to Eatonville as "an independent woman," because she still seemed quite devoted to him in the first chapter. However, I thought that TC's downfall would be more selfish - though it mightn't be apparent to Janie. TC's selflessness really shocked me. I thought it would be more something along the lines of: he just fell into a deep slumber as Janie struggled to survive. Then again, we must remember that Janie is narrating the whole thing, and that her devotion to TC may corrupt the way she recounts the story.
I have no more doubts about Tea Cake. In fact, I think he has matured tremendously from when we were first introduced to him. I no longer think this book is heading toward a completely sad ending. Maybe fairytales do happen? Maybe TC and Janie are for life? I don't know. Let's find out. Something very off putting about this book for me is the introduction of minor-but-not-really-that-minor-because-they-stay-for-a-while characters like Motor Boat, Mrs Turner and Nunkie. This isn't Hurston's fault; it's probably just a matter of taste. I prefer books that stick with a core group of characters and when minor ones come up, it's obvious that they're minor. In TEWWG, this is not the case. You don't know how much to care about someone because there are a lot of characters, and they stick around for an annoying amount of time but then disappear.
It was quite noticable when Tea Cake mentioned how the Indians didn't know anything about the weather or else they'd still have their land and also the animals moving because of the future weather considerig the Indians and animals has been stereotyped to know the weather/nature much better than the instincts of a human. It seems to have forshadowed Janie/Tea Cake's demise.
It surprised me that Hurston depicted Tea Cake as a heroic figure in this chapter. When he "saved" Janie. I thought this kind of problem would make Tea Cake flee, but he stayed.
The like how Tea Cake and Janie stayed together through the hurricane, and this chapter could be a hint that Janie and Tea Cake will remain together no matter what as dangers continue to come their way. Tea Cake and Janie's togetherness possibly represent the maximum happiness an African American woman could have, no matter how light skinned, at the time. --ROhan
I thought Tea Cake was going to die, and Janie would, yet again, be devastated. The ending chapters are very romantic. I love chapter 18 and how she title the book. When i read the line "their eyes were watching God" it was very powerful and had meaning, due to the title.
After reading this chapter, I could now trust Tea Cake better because he became heroic risking his life to save Janie. It was also suprising that Tea Cake didn't die himself because I was expecting that to happen which shall lead the readers to the ending, but it didn't. I also thought it was ramdom to introduce Motor Boat in when the book should just be focused on Janie and Tea Cake coming to the conclusion of this book. Lastly, I liked all the images and descriptions of the water chasing them from behind and it really define the power of nature.
I completely agree with Cindy in her surprise that Tea Cake survived the hurricane and that it seemed to make the book more about them and not about Janie, and her possible independence. I thought that the hurricane would be a good time for Tea Cake to disappear and fall out of the novel, but it seems that I was wrong in this opinion.
I thought that this chapter was a clear step to a near ending. For Hurston makes the old age of Janie extremely evident, and both her and Tea Cake almost die. I wonder if this near death experience will change the way in which Janie sees Tea Cake. I think its possible that she will realize that he taking chances and living life like someone half her age. I now predict that by the end of the novel either Tea Cake or Janie will be dead. Henry Lucey
I dont fully understand why Tea Cake wanted to stay in the first place, but after getting past that this heroic scene has debunked atleast some of my suspicion of Tea Cakes motives
I'm interested to know why the title of the book appears for the first time in text on page 160 and also why religion is weaved into this chapter much more so than the rest of the book. The obvious answer to my second question would be that in times of desperation it is almost universal that people will suddenly believe and have a much stronger connection to God than usual. Yet I think there is more to it. Janie mentions right before this that it was God who "opened the door" for her to meet Tea Cake. This relates to our earlier class discussion about what was the point of making Janie beautiful. It seems to me after this hurricane that luck might be a major theme in the book.
I wonder if this is the moment Janie will decide about her future and what makes her go back home. But, I believe something else is going to happen that will remove her from her home in the Everglades and away from Tea Cake. I also think Witnessing the destruction of a hurricane and seeing all the bodies of those who were unfortunate made an impact on Janie.
I was having a lot of mixed feelings about Tea Cake and whether he had a hidden agenda or not. But I think its clear in this chapter that he really does care about Janie. He could have just let Janie struggle in the water but he helped her. I think because this love is true, it has to end, it's too perfect. This chapter set some sort of possible incident to come to be really tragic. I think something bad is going to happen but I'm not sure what yet. -Amina
CHAPTERS 19 AND 20 The end was in some ways shocking and in other ways almost perfect. I think Hurston nailed it. Tea Cake's death was unsurprising in that I fully expected him to die. However, I had for some reason assumed that his death would be sudden, and completely unexpected. I guess it still was in some ways. Hurston's handling of Tea Cake's death was impressive; the events themselves were dramatic enough to seem overly melodramatic, if they had been written in a different way, I think. Tea Cake's death was parallel to Jody's in the was that both men were unaware that they were truly going to die. I think I pitied Jody more at his death- with Tea Cake's I more just felt bad for Janie. It was really interesting that Hurston chose to make Tea Cake's death an event that was announced beforehand, and was in some ways gradual, before the very sudden actual event of his death. I also feel like there must be something deeper to why she chose to "kill" Tea Cake with a disease like rabies, which changed him into a snarling, violent man, and made for such an emotionally painful death. I just felt really awful for Janie; not only did she have to watch her beloved husband die, but she had to see him change into a malevolent version of himself, and she was forced to kill him to defend herself. In a way, though, I think her shooting of Tea Cake was her biggest sacrifice for him, her last test of love. She released her Tea Cake by killing the Tea Cake that had taken him over, and she took on the responsibility, emotionally and lawfully, of killing him so that he would not have to undergo the pain that would come with his killing of her. Also, I thought that the last two or so pages were kind of gorgeous.
CHAPTERS 19-20 I was stuck that even though we have heard about racial issues before, and black oppression, from Janie's grandmother, who experienced slavery and the power of a white master, ("De [black] woman is de mule uh de world so fur as I can see") and from Mrs. Turner with her skin-color obsession that places "white" atop a divine altar, this is the first time we see that divide. Janie has been in all African American communities for the majority of her life, and even though there are many cultural distinctions of those communities that are different from those of most at that time, none of it seems out of place. Then suddenly that line is there, in as sharp a form as coffins versus quicklime, the cemetery or the graveyard, but even presented in such a decisive manner, Hurston makes the difference between black and white far more realistic. On the dead, it is impossible to determine the color of skin, and the only thing that matters to the men doing the work (though not the guards) is that they lay them all to rest before their broken bodies decay further. The line between black and white is one imposed by people who believe in its reality, but it is really just a construction of the mind. In disaster, it is the living and the dead that are important, not society and all its expectations, for everyones eyes were watching god as the winds of change and death swirled around them.
I loved how the last page paralleled the metaphor of the opening paragraphs; I agree with Coco that it was beautifully written. I was so sad when tea Cake died! I felt terrible for Janie. Tea Cake was the best of her three husbands unquestionably, and they loved each other so much. I looked up the symptoms of rabies in humans, as follows: "Fever. Cough or sore throat. Pain, burning, itching, tingling, or numbness at the site of the bite or original exposure. Abdominal pain. Anxiety or restlessness that gradually gets worse and may become extreme agitation. Later symptoms are more distinctive and may include:
Periods of normal behavior that alternate with bizarre or unusual behavior, such as: Anxiety or feeling agitated. Hallucinations. Delirium. Fear of water (hydrophobia) or fear of air (aerophobia). Muscle spasms in the face, neck, and/or diaphragm, followed by seizures. Paralysis, which is often the only symptom of the less common paralytic form of rabies often associated with rabies from vampire bats. Wide fluctuations in temperature, pulse, and blood pressure. Coma, and heart and respiratory failure." It scared me when Tea Cake began acting like he did. I'm amazed how well Janie took it; it's got to be impossible to see the one person you ever loved disintegrate like that. I felt terrible.
Chapters 19-20 I felt a lot of different emotions while reading these two chapters. At first there was the relief that both Janie and Tea Cake made it through the hurricane alive and that Tea Cake got away from burying the dead. I pitied them when Tea Cake's health began to decline, but I had been resigned to his fate of death for several chapters now so it wasn't too surprising. I was afraid for Janie when Tea Cake lost himself and was overtaken by the madness of the rabies. During and after the trial I was angry at the racism of the lawyer and the people who said it was ok for Janie to have killed Tea Cake because he was black and at Janie's old friends who didn't stand by her until after the funeral. However, I'm glad that after this emotional roller coaster, Hurston decided to end the book in a way that imparted the feelings of acceptance and hope. As Coco said, those last pages were truly beautiful and reminded me of the beginning of the book that we looked at in class with the flowers and bees, but in a more down-to-earth way. I think this is the first time this year that we've read a book where I'm truly, completely happy with the way a story ended.
I also thought that the last couple of pages were poetic and beautiful. I really like what Coco said about Janie killing Tea Cake being the final test of her love for him. And I also agree with Tracey, that the distinction between blacks and whites becomes very apparent at the end of the story. The scene at the courthouse really defined that, but I found it strange that Hurston portrays the whites as very intelligent and even polite, while the blacks acted like animals and turned against Janie even when they had been close friends with her before. The way Tea Cake's friends acted at the end of the book really surprised me. At first, they had turned completely against Janie and claimed that she had had a perfect husband who did everything for her and she didn't appreciate it at all, and even murdered him to run off with another man. But then they quickly forgive her, and soon use Mrs. Turner's brother as a scapegoat. It was weird to me that Hurston, and I guess Janie, acted like this was okay to blame him for their problems and use him as a way to deal with their grief by beating him up and forcing him to leave town.
Chapters 19 + 20 I love that every time Janie comes to some sort of realization about her love for Tea Cake, her soul feels it and acts - almost as its own person. At the end of Chapter 13, when TC comes back from gambling, "he drifted off into sleep and Janie looked down on him and felt a self-crushing love. So her soul crawled out from its hiding place." And then right at the end of the book, "the kiss of his memory made pictures of love and light against the wall...She pulled in her horizon like a great fish-net...She called in her soul to come see." Her soul always seems to be in hiding until she calls it out into the open, as if Tea Cake inspires her to do so. I also think it's interesting that both those quotes end their respective chapters - it's as if they need no explanation.
Chapters 19 and 20: I enjoyed the last chapters of the book and I thought it was really beautifully written. I thought that they both showed how much Janie has changed throughout the novel. For she no longer cares about what others think about her. This is shown when Janie wears overalls to Tea Cake's funeral instead the formal black or white clothes that she was expected to wear. Janie is too busy morning to care about what others say about her and I think this is an important step for her. All in all I think it was a good, but not great novel. Henry Lucey
The ending was nothing like what I expected! I loved the last two chapters, and like Henry, I too felt that they were beautifully written. I was heartbroken reading the last few chapters. Reading about their struggle through the hurricane, I finally began to feel for and connect with Janie around chapter 19. She was becoming stronger and stronger. After Tea Cake's death and having to face the court case and saying goodbye to her lover, I felt awful for Janie. Yet she truly did transform into a strong, independent, and expressive woman. As Tea Cake struggled with his disease, Janie immediately took on his normal role as the dominant figure in the relationship- being the lover rather than the loved. She took care of Tea Cake, remained strong, and pushed herself through and incredibly difficult situation. Though Janie definitely gained a lot of her courage and strength from Tea Cake, and from spending time with him, I still feel that Janie deserves a lot of credit for her physical and emotional survival. The end of the book, though beautifully written and touching, left me feeling so much more satisfied than I would have if the book had just ended with JAnie living a happy life with Tea Cake. The last chapter was the first time I really felt like Janie was being her true self and expressing her feelings as the narrator of the book. In addition, Janie took her own struggle and tragedy, was able to put it aside and find the positives, and then turned them into words of wisdom to pass on to Pheoby. Though pained and troubled, Janie became a wise, caring woman on her way to acceptance of her life.
*Blinks* ... I think Janie is very strong in the end, not spiraling down into despair that the one she loves is dead and gone, but she continues to live on for his sake. If I lost my love I would probably just be a depressed mush that would isolate myself into my house and wither away thinking of what use to be. What would you all do in Janie's position? Of both grieving and dealing with your lovers rabid-induced rage?
When Tea Cake got sick and went crazy, I was immediately reminded of Jody and how when his health started to deteriorate, he got even more harsh, irritable, etc. I suppose it's fair to say that history repeats itself. I was partially right about Tea Cake and Janie not working out- he became crazy and turned on her, and she was forced to shoot him; otherwise he would've shot her.
I loved these last chapters! I thought they were beautifully written and I think Willa Cather did a great job finishing a lot of things in a short amount of space without making it feel rushed. I thought it was especially interesting in chapter 19 the different ways white people were portrayed. There were the mean white men that made Tea Cake bury bodies but there was also the nice doctor, the nice judges/jury and the white women who crowded Janie at the end of her trial- it was all very interesting. -Amina
I will be honest, I did not anticipate this kind of ending. The book became very sad and emotional in these last chapters. I did not see Tea Cake as being dead.
Referring to what jonny said it was cool how hurtson added in the "our eyes are watching god". When I read that I was like ooh that's the title of the story. One part that made me sad was tea cake dying. Even while he was sick he held jealously within him for janie. I guess that kinda shows how much he loves her.
This ending is probably one of the saddest I've ever read - it's just so awful to me that Janie had to go through so many guys to find the one she finally liked, and then after only two years with him, he dies. Still, I think her life was touched by the experience, and she's stronger for it. The ending also exemplifies the idea Hurston expressed of the African-American woman during this time being the mule of the world - great grief comes to her, but she is able to survive through it, and live on her own, independently. I had almost forgotten that she had been telling her story to Phoeby, but I loved that it came back to Eatonville at the end, the place where she met Tea Cake. - Catherine Marris
I was very unsatisfied with the ending to the book. While it was sad that he got sick and she had to kill him, it provided no closure whatsoever. I was expecting Janie to rise up to the suspicious motives and actions of Tea Cake and leave him to return to Eatonville. Instead he gets sick and all is forgotten. While it is a big difference to her reaction to Jody's death, I was still left unsatisfied and with the feeling that several loose ends were left untied.
Dan M (I did not read it until this weekend because of AP exams)
The ending is the complete opposite from what I expected. I guessed that Tea Cake would turn out to be a bad guy and try to harm Janie which he did, but I never expected Janie to be the one to kill Tea Cake. I think the ending was rushed and confused because it didn't allow us to learn what would have happened to their relationship.
I am almost surprised that Tea Cake didn't die in the hurricane, but it did provide a new obstacle in Janie's life. This new obstacle is much more physical, and fixable, than the drawn out dissatisfaction of her relationship with Jody. It also seems to be an event that will serve to unify Janie and Tea Cake further, both through the hardship of the actual storm, and through the rebuilding and mourning that will probably become a significant force in their lives, although I don't know if it will be enough to save Tea Cake from a literarily necessary death.
ReplyDeleteI really liked Hurston's description of the hurricane, especially the flooding. The imagery of the sea "walking the earth with a heavy heel" was very powerful.
I was a little confused by Motor Boat's decision to sleep in the abandoned house. It seemed like a kind of bizarre decision, and made me wonder why Hurston had Motor Boat accompany Janie and Tea Cake. I'm hoping it will be revisited and his role will be explained further, because as of now, it seems kind of random.
I'm more suprised at how those people could miss the signs of the hurricane. If the native indians, who lived there for generations, decided that a hurricane was coming, oh boy everyone should be doing a massive evacuation, not dallying around...and the animals too. Don't they watch movies? Like come on, if there is anything scary like aliens or freak weather, the animals are THE early warning sign. RUN! Don't just ignore it! :(
ReplyDeleteThe storm descriptions on page 158 was kinda cool. "Their eyes were watching God" on page 160. I FOUND IT :)
I was happy because TC saved Janie from the dog, so I don't think TC and Janie are going to hate each other in the near future, unlike what we predicted in class xD
The scene where Janie and Tea Cake left Motor Boat was very touching for me - it seemed crazy that they didn't insist he come with them, as if independence was valued over life. I also wanted to hear the end of what Tea Cake was going to say on pg. 151 - it seems like he was going to tell her that he never knew she loved him that much, that he thought maybe someday she would leave him, or was displeased with him. I thought that was really interesting, as he's always been the center of their relationship, not Janie. I'm not going to say anything about the ending as I already know it - only that the hurricane seems like another test of the tenacity of the African-American woman.
ReplyDelete- Catherine Marris
Reading this chapter gives me this feeling, that people are stupid and stubborn... Or just stubborn that causes actions that are stupid... Something like that.
ReplyDeleteBefore this chapter I was just waiting for Tea cake to do something wrong so that I could say that he was not the right man. Once again I was prooved wrong and He just keeps doing the right thing. I really do believe that Tea Cake is a very nice man and a good husband to Janie. I am not sure how this section will lead into the end of the book. Maybe Janie and Tea Cake will get separated in Palm beach or maybe she finds a new man but I still like Tea Cake. The two made a great escape and it was good that Tea Cake came in and saved the day to top it off.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that the events of this chapter somehow tie to Janie's lonely return to Eatonville. I think that Tea Cake is going to die of pneumonia or some water-born illness or from rabies from the dog bite. The part with Janie's near-death experience in the water with the dog was really vivid. The way that Janie saw the mad ferocity in that dog's eyes and the special attention Hurtson devoted to that moment convinces me further that this scene was pivotal. Possibly, I'm just a pessimist, and the only thing this scene represented was Tea Cake's devotion to Janie even in the face of death. - Olga
ReplyDeleteLike Coco, I was surprised that Tea Cake survived the hurricane. I think the fact that they went through the storm together turned the book into a story about their adventures and their life together. I always thought the ending would focus on Janie and her independence so this really surprised me.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see how Hurston thought of the title of the book... She must have titled it after writting this chapter (18). The three of them wait out the storm in the shanty with "their eyes watching God."
ReplyDeleteCrap! I just lost my whole comment. I'll write it shorter: I think that the storm marked a turning point between the relationship of before, more casual and for love than for the duty of marriage, and now. Now that Tea Cake and Janie have weathered the storm together (with Tea Cake saving Janie's life!) I wonder how their relationship will change. I remain suspicious of Tea Cake; what interest could he have in such an older woman? I hope that the story works out well for Janie, though, because she's such a likable character.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised that Tea Cake was having such a tough time during the hurricane, while Janie's struggle isn't highlighted as much. After reading the part where Janie tells Tea Cake that she is glad that he is with him, even in the middle of a hurricane I changed my mind about how the story could possibly end. Instead of Tea Cake taking advantage of or being to authoratative of Janie, I think there could possibly be some tragic end to Tea Cake that promotes sympathy instead. The time when Tea Cake saves Janie from the dog fortifies this idea because he is willing to throw his life on the line for her and I think that mentality could bring the death of him in the future.
ReplyDeleteThis goes against the direction I thought the book was going to go. I though that Tea Cake was going to dump Janie and take her money, but this chapter changes my opinion. Tea Cake ends up being the good guy, he saves Janie's life. This show that he still cares and I am interested in the new direction this book is going.
ReplyDeleteI loved the line, "Havoc was there with her mouth wide open" (158). I think it is true for Palm Beach and for Janie and Tea Cake's story. This is really the first major event of their time together (and maybe even of the book), and I think it will change their relationship, making it stronger because of what they have been through together and the pieces they will have to pick up, but it may strain it as well. I also still think that in order for the book to end in a way consistent with its telling, Tea Cake will have to die, and I was surprised that he didn't in the hurricane but I have a feeling it will be something related to the aftermath that kills him.
ReplyDeleteAs a few people have been saying, i was kind of expecting Tea Cake to die during this part of the story. But I've also been sort of expecting him to die for awhile because of the beginning section, where we learn that something separates him and Janie, and since they love each other so much it must clearly be his death (which is my reasoning, at least). So when he got stabbed gambling as well as his other adventures, I kept waiting for the narrator to tell us he was dead.
ReplyDeleteBut this chapter really underscores the love Tea Cake feels for Janie, and it was really touching to see how much he would do to protect her. As Catherine said, I was also really curious about what he was going to say to her when he gets cut off.
Relationship values must've been different back then, since Janie seems to still love Tea Cake, even after all the ups and downs they've had together. It was quite touching how the two stayed together throughout the whole flood, and especially how Tea Cake sprung into action and saved Janie's life. That surprised me a bit, I'll admit, since he didn't come off as that 'caring' to me earlier.
ReplyDeleteIt's even harder for me now to understand why Janie would want to leave Tea Cake by the end of her story. He just shows himself to be a super-man her, saving her life on top of being so amazing. Still though, he controls her nonetheless and I believe that Janie will refuse to be controlled.
ReplyDeleteI was really surprised by the events of this chapter. Earlier, I was convinced that Tea Cake would die because of his gambling. Now, as Olga said, I think he will die as a consequence of the dog bite. I didn't exactly think that Janie was going to return to Eatonville as "an independent woman," because she still seemed quite devoted to him in the first chapter. However, I thought that TC's downfall would be more selfish - though it mightn't be apparent to Janie. TC's selflessness really shocked me. I thought it would be more something along the lines of: he just fell into a deep slumber as Janie struggled to survive.
ReplyDeleteThen again, we must remember that Janie is narrating the whole thing, and that her devotion to TC may corrupt the way she recounts the story.
I have no more doubts about Tea Cake. In fact, I think he has matured tremendously from when we were first introduced to him. I no longer think this book is heading toward a completely sad ending. Maybe fairytales do happen? Maybe TC and Janie are for life? I don't know. Let's find out.
ReplyDeleteSomething very off putting about this book for me is the introduction of minor-but-not-really-that-minor-because-they-stay-for-a-while characters like Motor Boat, Mrs Turner and Nunkie. This isn't Hurston's fault; it's probably just a matter of taste. I prefer books that stick with a core group of characters and when minor ones come up, it's obvious that they're minor. In TEWWG, this is not the case. You don't know how much to care about someone because there are a lot of characters, and they stick around for an annoying amount of time but then disappear.
It was quite noticable when Tea Cake mentioned how the Indians didn't know anything about the weather or else they'd still have their land and also the animals moving because of the future weather considerig the Indians and animals has been stereotyped to know the weather/nature much better than the instincts of a human. It seems to have forshadowed Janie/Tea Cake's demise.
ReplyDeleteAndrew
I thought Motor Boat pretty much giving up on his life was really unnatural and disturbing, especially given that we have just been introduced to him.
ReplyDelete-Benny
It surprised me that Hurston depicted Tea Cake as a heroic figure in this chapter. When he "saved" Janie. I thought this kind of problem would make Tea Cake flee, but he stayed.
ReplyDeleteThe like how Tea Cake and Janie stayed together through the hurricane, and this chapter could be a hint that Janie and Tea Cake will remain together no matter what as dangers continue to come their way. Tea Cake and Janie's togetherness possibly represent the maximum happiness an African American woman could have, no matter how light skinned, at the time. --ROhan
ReplyDeleteI thought Tea Cake was going to die, and Janie would, yet again, be devastated. The ending chapters are very romantic. I love chapter 18 and how she title the book. When i read the line "their eyes were watching God" it was very powerful and had meaning, due to the title.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this chapter, I could now trust Tea Cake better because he became heroic risking his life to save Janie. It was also suprising that Tea Cake didn't die himself because I was expecting that to happen which shall lead the readers to the ending, but it didn't. I also thought it was ramdom to introduce Motor Boat in when the book should just be focused on Janie and Tea Cake coming to the conclusion of this book. Lastly, I liked all the images and descriptions of the water chasing them from behind and it really define the power of nature.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Cindy in her surprise that Tea Cake survived the hurricane and that it seemed to make the book more about them and not about Janie, and her possible independence. I thought that the hurricane would be a good time for Tea Cake to disappear and fall out of the novel, but it seems that I was wrong in this opinion.
ReplyDelete-Sydney
I thought that this chapter was a clear step to a near ending. For Hurston makes the old age of Janie extremely evident, and both her and Tea Cake almost die. I wonder if this near death experience will change the way in which Janie sees Tea Cake. I think its possible that she will realize that he taking chances and living life like someone half her age. I now predict that by the end of the novel either Tea Cake or Janie will be dead.
ReplyDeleteHenry Lucey
I dont fully understand why Tea Cake wanted to stay in the first place, but after getting past that this heroic scene has debunked atleast some of my suspicion of Tea Cakes motives
ReplyDeleteDAn M
I'm interested to know why the title of the book appears for the first time in text on page 160 and also why religion is weaved into this chapter much more so than the rest of the book. The obvious answer to my second question would be that in times of desperation it is almost universal that people will suddenly believe and have a much stronger connection to God than usual. Yet I think there is more to it. Janie mentions right before this that it was God who "opened the door" for her to meet Tea Cake. This relates to our earlier class discussion about what was the point of making Janie beautiful. It seems to me after this hurricane that luck might be a major theme in the book.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if this is the moment Janie will decide about her future and what makes her go back home. But, I believe something else is going to happen that will remove her from her home in the Everglades and away from Tea Cake. I also think Witnessing the destruction of a hurricane and seeing all the bodies of those who were unfortunate made an impact on Janie.
ReplyDeleteI was having a lot of mixed feelings about Tea Cake and whether he had a hidden agenda or not. But I think its clear in this chapter that he really does care about Janie. He could have just let Janie struggle in the water but he helped her. I think because this love is true, it has to end, it's too perfect. This chapter set some sort of possible incident to come to be really tragic. I think something bad is going to happen but I'm not sure what yet. -Amina
ReplyDeleteCHAPTERS 19 AND 20
ReplyDeleteThe end was in some ways shocking and in other ways almost perfect. I think Hurston nailed it. Tea Cake's death was unsurprising in that I fully expected him to die. However, I had for some reason assumed that his death would be sudden, and completely unexpected. I guess it still was in some ways. Hurston's handling of Tea Cake's death was impressive; the events themselves were dramatic enough to seem overly melodramatic, if they had been written in a different way, I think. Tea Cake's death was parallel to Jody's in the was that both men were unaware that they were truly going to die. I think I pitied Jody more at his death- with Tea Cake's I more just felt bad for Janie. It was really interesting that Hurston chose to make Tea Cake's death an event that was announced beforehand, and was in some ways gradual, before the very sudden actual event of his death. I also feel like there must be something deeper to why she chose to "kill" Tea Cake with a disease like rabies, which changed him into a snarling, violent man, and made for such an emotionally painful death. I just felt really awful for Janie; not only did she have to watch her beloved husband die, but she had to see him change into a malevolent version of himself, and she was forced to kill him to defend herself. In a way, though, I think her shooting of Tea Cake was her biggest sacrifice for him, her last test of love. She released her Tea Cake by killing the Tea Cake that had taken him over, and she took on the responsibility, emotionally and lawfully, of killing him so that he would not have to undergo the pain that would come with his killing of her.
Also, I thought that the last two or so pages were kind of gorgeous.
CHAPTERS 19-20
ReplyDeleteI was stuck that even though we have heard about racial issues before, and black oppression, from Janie's grandmother, who experienced slavery and the power of a white master, ("De [black] woman is de mule uh de world so fur as I can see") and from Mrs. Turner with her skin-color obsession that places "white" atop a divine altar, this is the first time we see that divide. Janie has been in all African American communities for the majority of her life, and even though there are many cultural distinctions of those communities that are different from those of most at that time, none of it seems out of place. Then suddenly that line is there, in as sharp a form as coffins versus quicklime, the cemetery or the graveyard, but even presented in such a decisive manner, Hurston makes the difference between black and white far more realistic. On the dead, it is impossible to determine the color of skin, and the only thing that matters to the men doing the work (though not the guards) is that they lay them all to rest before their broken bodies decay further. The line between black and white is one imposed by people who believe in its reality, but it is really just a construction of the mind. In disaster, it is the living and the dead that are important, not society and all its expectations, for everyones eyes were watching god as the winds of change and death swirled around them.
I loved how the last page paralleled the metaphor of the opening paragraphs; I agree with Coco that it was beautifully written. I was so sad when tea Cake died! I felt terrible for Janie. Tea Cake was the best of her three husbands unquestionably, and they loved each other so much. I looked up the symptoms of rabies in humans, as follows:
ReplyDelete"Fever.
Cough or sore throat.
Pain, burning, itching, tingling, or numbness at the site of the bite or original exposure.
Abdominal pain.
Anxiety or restlessness that gradually gets worse and may become extreme agitation.
Later symptoms are more distinctive and may include:
Periods of normal behavior that alternate with bizarre or unusual behavior, such as:
Anxiety or feeling agitated.
Hallucinations.
Delirium.
Fear of water (hydrophobia) or fear of air (aerophobia).
Muscle spasms in the face, neck, and/or diaphragm, followed by seizures.
Paralysis, which is often the only symptom of the less common paralytic form of rabies often associated with rabies from vampire bats.
Wide fluctuations in temperature, pulse, and blood pressure.
Coma, and heart and respiratory failure."
It scared me when Tea Cake began acting like he did. I'm amazed how well Janie took it; it's got to be impossible to see the one person you ever loved disintegrate like that. I felt terrible.
Chapters 19-20
ReplyDeleteI felt a lot of different emotions while reading these two chapters. At first there was the relief that both Janie and Tea Cake made it through the hurricane alive and that Tea Cake got away from burying the dead. I pitied them when Tea Cake's health began to decline, but I had been resigned to his fate of death for several chapters now so it wasn't too surprising. I was afraid for Janie when Tea Cake lost himself and was overtaken by the madness of the rabies. During and after the trial I was angry at the racism of the lawyer and the people who said it was ok for Janie to have killed Tea Cake because he was black and at Janie's old friends who didn't stand by her until after the funeral. However, I'm glad that after this emotional roller coaster, Hurston decided to end the book in a way that imparted the feelings of acceptance and hope. As Coco said, those last pages were truly beautiful and reminded me of the beginning of the book that we looked at in class with the flowers and bees, but in a more down-to-earth way. I think this is the first time this year that we've read a book where I'm truly, completely happy with the way a story ended.
I also thought that the last couple of pages were poetic and beautiful. I really like what Coco said about Janie killing Tea Cake being the final test of her love for him. And I also agree with Tracey, that the distinction between blacks and whites becomes very apparent at the end of the story. The scene at the courthouse really defined that, but I found it strange that Hurston portrays the whites as very intelligent and even polite, while the blacks acted like animals and turned against Janie even when they had been close friends with her before.
ReplyDeleteThe way Tea Cake's friends acted at the end of the book really surprised me. At first, they had turned completely against Janie and claimed that she had had a perfect husband who did everything for her and she didn't appreciate it at all, and even murdered him to run off with another man. But then they quickly forgive her, and soon use Mrs. Turner's brother as a scapegoat. It was weird to me that Hurston, and I guess Janie, acted like this was okay to blame him for their problems and use him as a way to deal with their grief by beating him up and forcing him to leave town.
Chapters 19 + 20
ReplyDeleteI love that every time Janie comes to some sort of realization about her love for Tea Cake, her soul feels it and acts - almost as its own person. At the end of Chapter 13, when TC comes back from gambling, "he drifted off into sleep and Janie looked down on him and felt a self-crushing love. So her soul crawled out from its hiding place." And then right at the end of the book, "the kiss of his memory made pictures of love and light against the wall...She pulled in her horizon like a great fish-net...She called in her soul to come see."
Her soul always seems to be in hiding until she calls it out into the open, as if Tea Cake inspires her to do so. I also think it's interesting that both those quotes end their respective chapters - it's as if they need no explanation.
Chapters 19 and 20:
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the last chapters of the book and I thought it was really beautifully written. I thought that they both showed how much Janie has changed throughout the novel. For she no longer cares about what others think about her. This is shown when Janie wears overalls to Tea Cake's funeral instead the formal black or white clothes that she was expected to wear. Janie is too busy morning to care about what others say about her and I think this is an important step for her. All in all I think it was a good, but not great novel.
Henry Lucey
The ending was nothing like what I expected! I loved the last two chapters, and like Henry, I too felt that they were beautifully written. I was heartbroken reading the last few chapters. Reading about their struggle through the hurricane, I finally began to feel for and connect with Janie around chapter 19. She was becoming stronger and stronger. After Tea Cake's death and having to face the court case and saying goodbye to her lover, I felt awful for Janie. Yet she truly did transform into a strong, independent, and expressive woman. As Tea Cake struggled with his disease, Janie immediately took on his normal role as the dominant figure in the relationship- being the lover rather than the loved. She took care of Tea Cake, remained strong, and pushed herself through and incredibly difficult situation. Though Janie definitely gained a lot of her courage and strength from Tea Cake, and from spending time with him, I still feel that Janie deserves a lot of credit for her physical and emotional survival.
ReplyDeleteThe end of the book, though beautifully written and touching, left me feeling so much more satisfied than I would have if the book had just ended with JAnie living a happy life with Tea Cake. The last chapter was the first time I really felt like Janie was being her true self and expressing her feelings as the narrator of the book. In addition, Janie took her own struggle and tragedy, was able to put it aside and find the positives, and then turned them into words of wisdom to pass on to Pheoby. Though pained and troubled, Janie became a wise, caring woman on her way to acceptance of her life.
*Blinks* ... I think Janie is very strong in the end, not spiraling down into despair that the one she loves is dead and gone, but she continues to live on for his sake. If I lost my love I would probably just be a depressed mush that would isolate myself into my house and wither away thinking of what use to be. What would you all do in Janie's position? Of both grieving and dealing with your lovers rabid-induced rage?
ReplyDeleteWhen Tea Cake got sick and went crazy, I was immediately reminded of Jody and how when his health started to deteriorate, he got even more harsh, irritable, etc. I suppose it's fair to say that history repeats itself.
ReplyDeleteI was partially right about Tea Cake and Janie not working out- he became crazy and turned on her, and she was forced to shoot him; otherwise he would've shot her.
I loved these last chapters! I thought they were beautifully written and I think Willa Cather did a great job finishing a lot of things in a short amount of space without making it feel rushed. I thought it was especially interesting in chapter 19 the different ways white people were portrayed. There were the mean white men that made Tea Cake bury bodies but there was also the nice doctor, the nice judges/jury and the white women who crowded Janie at the end of her trial- it was all very interesting. -Amina
ReplyDeleteI will be honest, I did not anticipate this kind of ending. The book became very sad and emotional in these last chapters. I did not see Tea Cake as being dead.
ReplyDeleteReferring to what jonny said it was cool how hurtson added in the "our eyes are watching god". When I read that I was like ooh that's the title of the story. One part that made me sad was tea cake dying. Even while he was sick he held jealously within him for janie. I guess that kinda shows how much he loves her.
ReplyDeleteThis ending is probably one of the saddest I've ever read - it's just so awful to me that Janie had to go through so many guys to find the one she finally liked, and then after only two years with him, he dies. Still, I think her life was touched by the experience, and she's stronger for it. The ending also exemplifies the idea Hurston expressed of the African-American woman during this time being the mule of the world - great grief comes to her, but she is able to survive through it, and live on her own, independently. I had almost forgotten that she had been telling her story to Phoeby, but I loved that it came back to Eatonville at the end, the place where she met Tea Cake.
ReplyDelete- Catherine Marris
I was very unsatisfied with the ending to the book. While it was sad that he got sick and she had to kill him, it provided no closure whatsoever. I was expecting Janie to rise up to the suspicious motives and actions of Tea Cake and leave him to return to Eatonville. Instead he gets sick and all is forgotten. While it is a big difference to her reaction to Jody's death, I was still left unsatisfied and with the feeling that several loose ends were left untied.
ReplyDeleteDan M
(I did not read it until this weekend because of AP exams)
The ending is the complete opposite from what I expected. I guessed that Tea Cake would turn out to be a bad guy and try to harm Janie which he did, but I never expected Janie to be the one to kill Tea Cake. I think the ending was rushed and confused because it didn't allow us to learn what would have happened to their relationship.
ReplyDelete