Janie's Departure: Motifs and Irony in Chapter 4

1. Chapter 4: Long before the year was up, Janie noticed that her husband had stopped talking in rhymes to her. How do the motifs of the horizon, the pear tree and the bees factor into Janie’s leaving? What is ironic about Nanny’s plan for Janie? Complete reading of Ch 4 and dialectical journal. Be prepared to identify and discuss vital passages of this chapter. Turn in Questions for Ch 3 (if you haven’t already done so

2. Chapter 4: Logan “The sun from ambush was threatening the world with red daggers, but the shadows were gray and solid looking around the barn”(31). Personification, imagery “Logan with his shovel looked like a black bear doing some clumsy dance on his hind legs’(31). Animal imagery – simile “He hoped that he had hurt her as she had hurt him”(31). “Ah guess some low-life nigger is ginnin’ in yo’ face and lyin’ tuhyuh. God damn yo’ hide!”(32). She is out of there and he knows it.

3. Joe Starks (husband number 2) “citified, stylish dressed man with his hat set at an angle…”(27). He was from “Georgy” saved $300.00; “It had always been his wish and desire to be a big voice and he had to live nearly thirty years to find a chance” (28). “You aint got no mo’ business wid uh plow than uh hog is got wid uh holiday!” (29). Idiom Den all de rest of yo’ natural life you kin live lak you oughta”(30).

4. Chapter 4: Janie “But springtime reached her in there so she moved everything to a place in the yard where she could see the road” (27). On her way out – metaphorically speaking, imagery, motif, symbol “Janie pulled back a long time because he did not represent the sun-up and pollen and blooming trees [her ideal] but he spoke for the far horizon [freedom from Killicks – change]” (29). motif “Janie hurried out of the front gate and turned south”(32). motif “The morning road air was like a new dress. That made her feel the apron tied around her waist. She untied it and flung it on a low bush beside the road and walked on, picking flowers and making a bouquet”(32). Simile, imagery

5. Chapter 4: Janie “From now on until death she was going to have flower dust and springtime sprinkled over everything” (32). “A bee for her bloom” (32). “Her old thoughts were going to come in handy now, but new words would have to be made and said to fit them” (32). Joe Starks is not the pear tree but he is closer to her ideal and freedom from being Logan Killick’smule. “Green Cove Springs” (33). We all know the symbolism here

6. Chapter 4: Janie’s hair “He [Logan Killicks] had ceased to wonder at her long black hair and finger it” (26). The honeymoon is over. When Janie first sees Joe Starks she goes to the pump to get his attention and “also made her hair fall down” (27). She is attracted to this new man. Joe Starks tells Janie, “Kiss me and shake yo’ head. When you do dat, yo’ plentiful hair breaks lak day” (30). Feeling is mutual. Janie’s hair is a symbol of her femininity and sexuality. It also represents freedom – when she sees Joe Starks as a possible way out of her situation – her hair falls out of its restraints – braid

7. Summary of Ch 1-4 • Janie does not care about how other’s judge her. • Janie was unaware of racial differences that would limit her (as a child and teenager) • Nanny felt that Johnny Taylor would kill her dreams of a better life for Janie. Logan at least would protect her, provide for her, and make her respectable. The irony here is that although Killicks owns property, he will try to use Janie as a work mule – the very thing Nanny was trying to protect Janie against. • Janie hoped that marriage would bring love. Realizing that it does not, kills her dream, but makes her become more realistic.

8. Chapter 1-4 • Joe Starks holds out the promise of a better future than Logan Killicks does, but he is not her romantic ideal. • Janie gives up domestic life with Killicks, adjusts her dream, and begins a new life with Joe Starks.