In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Joe Starks dies from kidney failure and old age. Essentially, his elderliness probably caused his kidneys to stop working properly. Joe dies while continuing to harangue Janie for her alleged faults. Hover for more information.
Why is Jody so cruel in their eyes were watching God?
Their Eyes Were Watching God Jody’s character is opposite that of Tea Cake. He is cruel, conceited, and uninterested in Janie as a person. But his cruelty is not a result of any specific animosity toward Janie; rather, it is a reflection of the values that he holds and the way that he understands his relationship to the world.
What does Janie tell Jody about his deathbed?
In a moment of intense anger, Janie reveals to Jody that he has been and is on his death-bed, a statement that Jody initially perceives as an insult, but quickly accepts as truth. Janie is able to find full self-expression now with firm knowledge of Jody's oncoming death.
Who said their eyes were watching God?
The Their Eyes Were Watching God quotes below are all either spoken by Jody Starks or refer to Jody Starks. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one: ).
Does Jody die in the Outsiders?
Jody, however, doesn’t survive; in part, his destruction results from Janie’s reassertion of herself. Read more about Janie’s perspective on Jody’s death.
How does Jody become sick?
When Jody insults her appearance, Janie rips him to shreds in front of the townspeople, telling them all how ugly and impotent he is. In retaliation, he savagely beats her. Their marriage breaks down, and Jody becomes quite ill. After months without interacting, Janie visits him on his deathbed.
What happened with Jody and Janie?
Disillusioned by her unhappy marriage to Logan Killicks, Janie falls in love with Jody and the opportunity he represents. But the romance she thought she found does not last long. Soon, Joe becomes jealous of his beautiful wife. He moves her away to a place that was supposed to be a “town all outa colored folks” (28).
What does Janie do after Joe dies?
In her first act of freedom following Joe's death, Janie burns her headrags to symbolize her new independence from Joe's control. While many women who lose their husbands feel weak and insecure, Janie does not. Rather, Janie actually gains strength from Joe's death.
What does Janie want Joe to do before he died?
All she wanted was to make a home for him, but he was too ambitious and demanded her submission. Janie says Joe never let her show him her love because he was too wrapped up in listening to his "own big voice." Joe dies trying to rebuke her. Janie contemplates his face in death and feels pity for him.
What does Janie say to Jody on his deathbed?
Janie Starks : [to Joe on his deathbed] Even now, you got to die with me being obedient, instead of just letting me love you.
Is Jody and Joe the same person?
Joe Starks, often called Jody, is Janie's second husband and a born entrepreneur with a few good qualities.
What did Jody do after he felt that Janie had insulted him?
She insults his sagging body and declares that he looks like “de change uh life” when naked. The force of the insult stuns the men on the porch. Jody feels impotent, his reputation in the town diminished and his power vanishing. He lashes out in a blind rage, fiercely hitting Janie and driving her from the store.
How does Tea Cake get rabies?
During a hurricane, Tea Cake is bitten by a rabid dog while attempting to rescue Janie from drowning, and he himself contracts rabies.
How old is Janie at the end of the book?
Janie Sixteen-year-old Janie Crawford dreams of love and wonders whether love will come with marriage. Twenty-four years and three marriages later, Janie has experienced both love and personal growth. Nanny Born into slavery on a plantation near Savannah, she bears Leafy, her white master's child.
What did Janie tell Jody before he died?
Why does Janie visit Jody on his deathbed? What does she say? She tells Joe that she was happy when they married, but Joe became more greedy and controlling, and she resented him for the way he treated her. 1.
What is the rumor going around about Joe's illness?
What is the rumor going around about Joe's illness? People think that Janie poisoned him. 87.
When did Joe hit Janie?
Years into the marriage (around 1924), Joe hits Janie for the first time for not preparing his dinner properly. At this point, Janie realizes she no longer loves Joe and that she is saving herself for another man. Years later, she insults Joe's manhood in front of the townspeople, and he hits her again.
What chapter does Janie attend Jody's funeral?
Soon after their argument, Jody dies and Janie is left to her own devices. Feeling a complicated mix of nostalgia,... (full context) Chapter 9. Janie attends Jody 's funeral and pretends to be in mourning in order to convince the townspeople that her... (full context) Chapter 12.
What does Jody do when the mule dies?
Jody overhears Janie, and in order to quell Janie's anxiety about the mule's victimization, Jody purchases... (full context) When the mule dies, Jody plans a funeral for it, as the mule had become a kind of mascot for... (full context)
What chapter does Jody move his belongings to a guest room?
Chapter 8. In an effort to reject Janie in a more formal way, Jody decides to relocate his belongings to a guest room, where he also sleeps in order... (full context) Janie calls for a doctor from nearby in Orlando to examine Jody, determined to get her husband proper care despite having complicated feelings about him.
How does Jody make a name for himself in the town?
Jody continues to make a name for himself in the town by announcing his plan to... (full context) Jody makes back the money he spent buying the 200 acres by selling land to newly-arrived... (full context) In his new role as mayor, Jody declares that the town needs a street lamp.
What does Janie sense in the townspeople's perception of their house?
In particular, Janie senses envy in the townspeople's perception of their house – unlike the... (full context) ...can only speculate about why and how she might be able to be married to Jody, who has become known increasingly throughout town as unpleasantly domineering. In particular, they note the... (full context) Chapter 6.
Who is Jody Starks' second husband?
Jody Starks Character Analysis. Jody Starks. Next. Logan Killicks. Jody Starks is Janie's handsome, wealthy, ambitious, and power-hungry second-husband. Meeting Jody Starks prompts Janie to leave her first husband, Logan Killicks, who she felt treated her as nothing more than an animal. Upon meeting Jody, Janie feels that she catches a glimpse ...
Why did Janie pull back a long time?
Janie pulled back a long time because he did not represent sun-up and pollen and blooming trees, but he spoke for far horizon. Chapter 5 Quotes. "Thank yuh fuh yo' compliments, but mah wife don't know nothin' 'bout no speech-makin'. Ah never married her for nothin' lak dat. She's uh woman and her place is in de home.".
What is the story of Jody and Janie?
Share Link. In Zora Neale Hurston ’s novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, Joe Starks —or Jody, as he’s commonly called—dies while continuing to harangue Janie for her supposed faults. Jody and Janie do not have a healthy marriage. Their problems seem to stem from Jody’s sexism and jealousy, and Jody tends to treat Janie like an object or a servant.
What does Janie say to Jody?
Janie tells Jody, “Ah meant tuh be awful nice.”. However, Jody continues to lambast her for her supposed lack of feeling and sympathy. As the two go back and forth, Jody keeps trying to get Janie to leave him alone. Of course, Janie stays.
Why doesn't Jody let Janie speak?
He doesn’t let her speak at his store opening because he doesn’t want men gazing at her. There’s also a scene in which he hits her for not making a meal to his liking.
How did Joe Starks die?
In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Joe Starks dies from kidney failure and old age. Essentially, his elderliness probably caused his kidneys to stop working properly. Joe dies while continuing to harangue Janie for her alleged faults. Download PDF.
What does Janie reveal to Jody?
In a moment of intense anger, Janie reveals to Jody that he has been and is on his death-bed, a statement that Jody initially perceives as an insult, but quickly accepts as truth. Janie is able to find full self-expression now with firm knowledge of Jody's oncoming death.
What happens to Jody and Janie after they argue?
Soon after their argument, Jody dies and Janie is left to her own devices. Feeling a complicated mix of nostalgia, sympathy, mourning, and anger regarding Jody and their marriage, Janie looks in the mirror and has a climactic moment of self-recognition.
What does Pheoby Watson tell Janie?
In conversation with Janie, Pheoby Watson reveals the fact that people throughout Eatonville believe Janie has been attempting to poison Jody. Janie is horrified by the mere idea of this, indicating her continued sense of allegiance to her husband, even in their relationship's highly compromised final stages.
Why does Jody move his belongings to a guest room?
In an effort to reject Janie in a more formal way, Jody decides to relocate his belongings to a guest room, where he also sleeps in order to avoid Janie at night. Jody's desire to avoid Janie continues to grow stronger, as he ignores her in the store and refuses to eat the food she prepares for him. In conversation with Janie, Pheoby Watson reveals ...
Why does Janie try to rekindle closeness with her husband?
Mourning Jody's impending death, Janie attempts to rekindle closeness with her husband in order to improve his final days. Despite Janie's efforts, Jody defensively accuses her of never having appreciated his generosity.
Why did Janie remove the scarf from her head?
Janie's removal of the scarf from her head marks a symbolic removal of Jody's control from her life. In particular, she is now able to regain her sense of self as a beautiful and desirable woman, something that Jody deliberately tried to destroy, especially in the final days preceding his death.
What happens to Jody after the confrontation?
After the confrontation, Jody moves into another room in the house. His health continues to deteriorate and he grows desperate, consulting with quacks who promise miracle cures. He avoids contact with Janie and stops eating her cooking. Janie learns from Pheoby that there is a rumor around town that Janie is trying to poison Jody for revenge. Nevertheless, Janie sends for a real doctor from Orlando. The doctor examines Jody and determines that his kidneys have stopped working and that he will soon die.
What is the one sidedness of Jody's relationship with Janie?
The one-sidedness of this dynamic is the only real tool left with which Jody can preserve the imbalance of power in his relationship with Janie. Jody tries to use his control of discourse to compensate for his physical deterioration and ultimate inability to control the world.
How are Jody and Janie's situations similar?
Both realize that they have constructed lives that have not delivered the fulfillment that they expected.
What is Janie's first act of liberation after Jody's death?
Janie’s first act of liberation after Jody’s death is to release her hair from the shackles of the head-rag.
Why does Jody resort to physical violence?
He resorts to physical violence—a display of beastliness—because his lofty aura has dissipated completely. Jody’s disintegration is completed in Chapter 8, and, once again, he is undone by the power of Janie’s speech. She finally lashes out at him in full, expressing her feelings and criticizing his faults.
Does Joe Starks know the words for all this?
Earlier, Jody prevents her from speaking and asserting her identity; now, he himself is left without a voice: “Joe Starks didn’t know the words for all this, but he knew the feeling.”. Stung by words, shown the limitations of his power, and robbed of his ability to speak, Jody breaks down.
Does Jody survive the chapter 8?
Jody, however, doesn’t survive ; in part, his destruction results from Janie’s reassertion of herself. In Chapter 6 we see how intimately Jody’s control is related to language.
What is the positive outcome of Joe's death?
One other positive outcome of Joe's death is Janie's deepening friendship with Pheoby. No longer is Janie restricted from maintaining friendships and socializing with the townspeople. With Joe's death, Janie has gained the freedom she has desired for so long. Glossary.
What is the difference between Janie and Joe's funeral?
In contrast, Joe's funeral may well be the most elaborate that they have ever seen. Janie spared no expense to make sure that Joe left "as he had come — with the out-stretched hand of power.". Janie's outward appearance and her inward thoughts contrast following the death of Joe.
Why does Janie burn her headrags?
In her first act of freedom following Joe's death, Janie burns her headrags to symbolize her new independence from Joe's control. While many women who lose their husbands feel weak and insecure, Janie does not. Rather, Janie actually gains strength from Joe's death.
What is Janie's first act of freedom?
Janie's first act of freedom is to burn all of the headrags that Joe made her wear. Aside from that, she makes no changes. She keeps the store with the help of a teenage youth, Hezekiah, who does his best to emulate Joe's mannerisms, even down to his cigar.
What band played at Joe's funeral?
Hurston mentions the Elks (BPOE) band that plays at Joe's funeral. celebration funerals and wakes often become festive affairs when family and friends gather, not only for the burial but also for a celebration of the life of the deceased.
Does Janie gain strength from Joe's death?
Rather, Janie actually gains strength from Joe's death. Even though Janie endures intense loneliness, she is strong enough to manage her personal life and the store as a result of enduring Joe's constant ridicule. Ironically, Joe's domination may have made Janie a stronger person.
Is Janie mourning Joe's death?
While the townspeople mourn the death of Joe, Janie appears to be grieving. However, inwardly, Janie feels no sorrow, only a sense of calm. Janie attended Joe's funeral, but inside, she "went rollicking with the springtime across the world.". Finally, Janie is free of the man who stifled her individuality. In her first act of freedom ...
Why is Janie not allowed to play the game of checkers?
Furthermore, Janie is not allowed to join the fun of the game of checkers because Joe has decided that she is not smart enough to play the game. Joe did not marry Janie for love; he married her for show. Power — control of people, position, property, and even money — rules Joe Starks. For Joe, love is self-love.
What is Joe's extraordinary self confidence?
Joe's extraordinary self-confidence leads to control, a manifestation of power. One sure object of his control is Janie. He defines the role he expects her to play, and it is one of subservience. Any idea of consulting her about his enterprises is far from his mind.
What are Joe Starks' traits?
If Joe Starks has one outstanding trait, it is confidence. From the moment he meets Janie until his death nearly 20 years later, he never doubts his ability to accomplish his goals. He can persuade people to believe in his dreams, accept his management, and give him loyalty. Although the porch sitters grumble behind his back about his high-pressure ...
Is Joe Eatonville overpowering?
Although the porch sitters grumble behind his back about his high-pressure ways, they have to concede his skill in creating their town, Eatonville. Physically, Joe is not especially overpowering. He is probably a man of average size and dark complexion, one who puts weight on as he nears middle age.
What does Janie tell Joe to do?
She tells Joe that she did not leave Logan and "come down the road" with him to lead a life of "bowing down" and obedience. Joe breathes his last painful breath and dies.
What does Joe Watson tell Janie about Joe?
Joe Watson tells Janie that Joe is about to die. His kidneys have failed. Janie begins to think about death: she pictures a square-toed man from the West who lives in a house with no roof. She asks Sam if it would be all right to visit Joe, but Joe refuses. Janie realizes that she must speak to Joe, no matter what.
What does Janie do in the mirror?
Janie puts his hands on his chest, then walks to the mirror to look for the young girl that she had asked to wait for her in the mirror. She takes the handkerchief off her head and examines her beautiful hair. She then gathers her strength, composes herself, and calls to the other townspeople that her husband has died.
What does Janie tell Joe about not listening?
Janie tells Joe that "not listening" has been the main problem of Joe's life: he has been so busy listening to himself that he has never listened to her. Joe tells her to get out, but Janie gets in the last word.
Why is Janie never allowed to be sympathetic?
Joe still blames her for being unsympathetic, but Janie explains that she was never allowed to be sympathetic because Joe controlled her too much. Nonetheless, Janie wants to talk to Joe before it is "too late.". Joe does not want to accept that he could die soon.
