Monday, May 2, 2011

Janie's Response to Jody

I think I can understand why Janie shut Jody out at the end of their marriage. Jody was unkind and restrictive, never explaining to Janie the reasons behind his actions and expecting her to perform a role that she was not. At least twice in the book it said that Jody did something without being open about his motives. The first one was in regard to Janie's hair. He wanted Janie to tie it up because he was jealous and didn't want other men touching it. However, he never told this to Janie, and instead let her think what she may. The second time was when he took to sleeping downstairs. He didn't really hate Janie but wanted her to think that he did. He was too busy with the work of his own hands that he failed to communicate.
He also belittled Janie and women in general, which caused him to want unconditional submission. I believe a woman should submit to her husband, but forced submission combined with contempt is unbearable. He wasn't interested in what she was saying so in the end, she kept all her thoughts and emotions to herself.
It was her only way of keeping her pride. If she had not done this, then in the end she might have just been a walking doormat for Jody.

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