Chapter 7 and 8 Their Eyes Were Watching God

1. Chapter 7 and 8Their Eyes Were Watching God Sophia Baluk Sarah McCall Courtney Gale Gabby Holcomb

2. Janie’s inner and outer self • Janie appears composed, obedient, and withdrawn from the conversations of others. • She appears simple-minded as she doesn’t contribute to many of the conversations held within the store. • Although Joe tries to repress Janie’s free spirit, Janie rebels by wearing clothes that define her womanhood.

3. Janie’s inner and outer self • Janie starts to repeat the train of thought she held when she was married to Logan Killicks; she contemplates fleeing from her marriage with Joe. • Janie dreams of the future prosperity of the town, whereas everyone else focuses on their current situations. • In her mind, Janie is against Joe’s oppression and wants to be a part of the town socially. • Janie resents the way Joe forces her to cover herself and commands her actions.

4. “Change of Life” • Janie adopts the mentality that she’s grown too old for her childhood dreams. • She comments that “thirty-five is twice seventeen” which symbolizes the hopelessness of her current situation. Unlike when she was younger with Logan, she realizes that stability in life is more important than love. • The mule symbolizes Janie’s freedom when she left Logan and his later years symbolize her current situation with Joe. Although the mule has a unhappy existence, it’s cared for by the town.

5. Janie and Joe’s relationship • As Joe’s interactions with Janie become more severe, Janie begins to strike back. • As a result of the public humiliation Joe suffered from Janie, he begins to distance himself from her and grow suspicious of her actions. • Joe refuses to talk with Janie and acts childish as a way to get back at Janie for her defiance.

6. Deathbed Conversation • Even on the deathbed, Joe refused to listen to Janie as she attempted to express her feelings. • “You changes everything but nothin’ don’t change you – not even death.” Even as he was dying, Joe refused to accept his responsibility as a husband. • Joe is characterized by his stubborn nature considering his dying words coincide with his past abusive treatment.

7. Figurative Language • “Man attempting to climb to painless heights from his dung hill,” (p.76) represents the physical struggle of carving a name for oneself. • An example of sensory imagery is given when the narrator states “Then Joe Starks realized all the meaning and his vanity bled like a flood,” (p.79). • Joe Starks vanity rushes away from him like the familiar draining of blood or rushing of water.

8. Questions • 1. Why does Joe constantly discuss Janie’s age? Does his attempted deception succeed in hiding his growing flaws from others? • 2. What eventually causes Janie to speak against Joe in the store? How did the various male onlookers react to her outburst? • 3. Janie contemplates fleeing her abusive relationship. What reasoning does she give for remaining in her current situation? • 4. What does Janie mean by “He had crawled off to lick his wounds” (p.81)? What wounds did Janie inflict on him? • 5. After their verbal fight in the store, Joe distances himself from Janie and grows suspicious of her motives. What does Joe do as a direct result of his mistrust? How do his actions lead to the deterioration of his health? • 6. What are your impressions of Joe? How does his behavior change throughout the novel? What does Janie mean by, “You changes everything but nothin’ don’t change you – not even death” (p.86)?