Janie Character Analysis: Their Eyes Were Watching God

Words: 437
Pages: 2

In both chapter 5 and 6 of Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie’s husband Joe continuously criticizes Janie by both her actions and her appearance when she is out with others. Joe Stark is terribly overprotective of Janie and what she brings to the table. Joe is always telling Janie what she should be doing, how she should dress, and even how she should act.
Janie is not outspoken or charismatic when she was young like she is in her most recent years. Janie doesn't want to cause a scene or make a fuss about anything so she mostly keeps to herself. An example of this is when she is told to give a speech to town but ends up being interrupted by Jody because she is too incompetent and uneducated to give such a speech. “And now we’ll listen tuh uh few words uh encouragement from Mrs. Mayor Starks… mah wife don't know nothin’ bout no speech-makin’.” Janie then keeps her mouth shut and doesn't say a word because she knows that Joe is probably right. She is very submissive towards her husband and his needs.
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Janie follows everything that Joe tells her to do whether it be from chores to her looks. “Her hair was NOT going to show in the store… Walter standing behind Janie and brushing the back of his hand back and forth across the loose end of her braid…” (Chapter 6, Page 55) Joe is an extremely jealous man who thinks that whatever he claims his is rightfully his and no one else can have it. One begins to notice this more often as the chapters go on. “She was there in the store for him to look at, not those others.” (Chapter 6, Page 55) Especially in chapter 6, one realizes just how naive Janie is to follow Jody’s every command. Janie is the puppet while Joe is the