Chapters 14-17

In Chapters 14-17, Janie and Tea Cake move to the fertile fields of the Everglades and begin their new life in the muck. Soon after they settle their house becomes the center of the community where people hang out and listen to Tea Cake play his guitar. There seems to be a parallel between Tea Cake’s house and Joe Starks’s store. Both provided a place for people to play games and chat, showing a connection between Joe Starks and Tea Cake that may not have been there before.

For the first time, Janie makes her own decision to work, a change from her previous life. Tea Cake begins to stop by the house during work hours, claiming he was lonely. After suggesting that Janie should join him in the fields, Janie decides to fulfill his request. Since working in Logan Killicks’s fields, Janie finally works out of her own jurisdiction. This shows a new freedom of which Janie was deprived, contributing to her increase of individuality that she finds with Tea Cake.

During the offseason, Janie spends time with Mrs. Turner, a black woman who despises black people. Mrs. Turner’s perspective on race proposes an interesting take on racism. For the first time in the novel, racism is presented. However, Mrs. Turner’s racism is blurry and confusing, as she is a black woman. Mrs. Turner worships whiteness, respecting Janie more for her white characteristics than who she is. The significance of this type of racism emphasizes the strength of racism and how it can even seduce African-Americans. I believe that Hurston was intentional about presenting racism for the first time in the novel in this way; to stress the fear that all people have and how it can manifest itself into hatred and shame.