Throughout the novel, Janie beings to develop her own sense of freedom and individuality through her experiences of her three marriages.
While beginning her womanly "career" at only 16, Janie is introduced to her expected duties as a woman- how and when to act, feel, speak, and even think.
As she grows and moves on to each new marriage, the dynamics and actions within the communities that she and her husbands reside in directly parallel and reflect Janie's personal growth and development through the many stages of her life, as well as directly connect with the dynamics of her current relationship. When in the courtroom, Janie's journey through self-expression reaches its peak as she brings together her experiences to finally display her overall discoveries about herself
The Courtroom
"The court set and Janie saw the judge who had put on a great robe to listen about her and Tea Cake. And twelve more white men had stopped whatever they were doing to listen and pass on what happened between Janie and Tea Cake Woods, and as to whether things were done right or not. That was funny too. Twelve strange men who didn't know a thing about people like Tea Cake and her were going to sit on the thing. Eight or ten white women had come to look at her too...What need had they to leave their richness to come look on Janie in her overalls? But they didn't seem too mad, Janie thought. It would be nice if she could make them know how it was instead of those menfolks...
Then she saw all of the colored people standing up in the back of the courtroom. Packed tight like a case of celery, only much darker than tha.t They were all against her, she oculd see. So many were there against her that a light slap from each one of them would have beat her to death. She felt them pelting her with dirty thoughts. They were there with their tongues cocked and loaded, the only real weapon left to weak folks. The only killing took they are allowed to use in the presence of white folks...
...They all leaned over to listen while she talked...She had to go way back to let them know how she and Tea Cake had been with one another so they oculd seee she could never shoot Tea Cake out of malice...She made them see how she couldn't ever want to be rid of him...She jsut sat there and told and when she was through she hushed..." (185-187)
True Judgment
"That was funny too. Twelve strange men who didn't know a thing about people like Tea Cake and her were going to sit on the thing" (185) The defining different between the other communities and the courtroom is the "official" status- the institutionalized system which places Janie on the stand to be judged, tried, and possibly convicted. The judge, jury, prosecuting attorney, defending attorney and audience are definitely a community. Although abruptly created and fixed, the courtroom represents not only a repeat of the previous situations of isolation and judgment from a surrounding community that Janie feels, but also the misunderstanding of an individual, the inability of fellow citizens to relate to and accept a person of a different light. The courtroom is also only temporary, for when the trial concludes never again will each person in the courthouse come together for such an "occasion" again. All key characters parallel the characters of the other scrutinizing communities Janie has grown to know; the idiosyncrasies, the snide remarks, the hasty conclusions and assumptions that fill the atmosphere in other communities. Despite the differences, Janie feels an intense wave of connection to the members of the courthouse, whether positive or negative. Janie feels hate from the Negroes in the courthouse, she can sense it and almost feel their thoughts. She is surprised to see white women in the seats, and wonders if they arrived to support her. Much like the other communities, Janie is aware that not one person could possibly conceive or understand the slightest thing about herself or Tea Cake, which she spends time considering. The character of Logan and the lack of community thereof emphasizes restriction, oppression and unhappiness. Joe and Eatonville release abusive authority and attempt to belittle Janie by dwindling self-confidence. Tea Cake provides a feeling of regained youth and happiness, Janie's dream of love and serenity seems real. The courtroom is the harsh and blunt reference to Janie's return into the spotlight and scrutiny. Not only forced to relive her last moments with Tea Cake, Janie is virtually alone, and, if convicted, in jeopardy of having no future at all. Janie becomes more aware of the community around her. Once again, although not for the same reasons, the focus is on Janie herself. The courtroom resolves into a downward direction, Janie cannot remain on the top and satisfied. Tea Cake is gone, Janie is again returned to the honored seat in the center and her actions, beliefs and character are once again judged.
Silence vs. voice
..They all leaned over to listen while she talked...She had to go way back to let them know how she and Tea Cake had been with one another so they oculd seee she could never shoot Tea Cake out of malice...She made them see how she couldn't ever want to be rid of him...She jsut sat there and told and when she was through she hushed..." (185-187). Throughout the novel, we see Janie as topic of discussion at various settings. However, at many points, Janie is unable to clear her voice or speak. In Eatonville, Janie has become so accustom to silence that her snide response to Joe's ridicule seems to send him down a path of uncertainty and depression. Janie's silence, although unfortunate, also holds great power, possibly as much power as her voice. When silent, Janie presents an indifferent attitude towards the other members in the community. Not being there to clear her name or stand up for herself, Janie avoids and disregards the comments by the public. This only causes them to be more confused by Janie and her actions.
In the courtroom, Janie is given an opportunity to explain to the courtroom what occurred the night of Tea Cake's death. Unlike the other judgmental communities she was placed in, the courtroom was inclined to hear Janie's side, interested, and provide the judge with an honest decision as to whether or not Janie is guilty. Janie is given her chance to speak, however the reader does not have a chance to read it, only the description of Janie's intentions and thoughts as she speaks. This might be for two reasons- first to emphasize how little we hear Janie's voice in a group or community at all, but only usually with one-on-one dialogue. The reader understands what Janie feels, but her actual voice tends to be silenced throughout the book. This can be a focus on the women of her time- unable to present themselves so boldly to the world. Janie is independent and different, almost ahead of her time when it comes to her personal dreams of her future. Perhaps silencing a woman like Janie prevents other women from following the same path of independence. Also, the few instances of voice are noticeably influential in the reader's feeling of Janie's tendency to undergo some form of imprisonment. The courtroom heard Janie, the reader does not.
The second reason Janie's actual testimony is not included in the text is because it was presented a few pages before. No need to recap, generally. Instead Hurston focuses on Janie's feelings, how she words her testimony to adequate work the crowd into a feeling of sympathy and understanding, something Janie was never capable of in the first place. This change we see in Janie, working with known dynamics of the audience to create a tie of sympathy where she would otherwise not, shows a growth in Janie. Perhaps Janie knew how to speak effectively in the first place. She only used her tool of persuasion when absolutely needed, thus giving it greater power and effectiveness. Perhaps Janie learned over time how to help people understand her, through oppressive times and uplifting times in the muck, she finally utilizes her ties and friendships to help the crowd relate to herself and her experiences.
The courtroom gives Janie her one and only chance to speak above the rest, to explain herself and all her past experiences, to connect herself with her surrounding community to save her future. Perhaps throughout her silence, Janie's observations of her surrounding communities help her to understand how to speak to her people in order for them to accept her.
"That was funny too. Twelve strange men who didn't know a thing about people like Tea Cake and her were going to sit on the thing" (185) The defining different between the other communities and the courtroom is the "official" status- the institutionalized system which places Janie on the stand to be judged, tried, and possibly convicted. The judge, jury, prosecuting attorney, defending attorney and audience are definitely a community. Although abruptly created and fixed, the courtroom represents not only a repeat of the previous situations of isolation and judgment from a surrounding community that Janie feels, but also the misunderstanding of an individual, the inability of fellow citizens to relate to and accept a person of a different light. The courtroom is also only temporary, for when the trial concludes never again will each person in the courthouse come together for such an "occasion" again. All key characters parallel the characters of the other scrutinizing communities Janie has grown to know; the idiosyncrasies, the snide remarks, the hasty conclusions and assumptions that fill the atmosphere in other communities. Despite the differences, Janie feels an intense wave of connection to the members of the courthouse, whether positive or negative. Janie feels hate from the Negroes in the courthouse, she can sense it and almost feel their thoughts. She is surprised to see white women in the seats, and wonders if they arrived to support her. Much like the other communities, Janie is aware that not one person could possibly conceive or understand the slightest thing about herself or Tea Cake, which she spends time considering. The character of Logan and the lack of community thereof emphasizes restriction, oppression and unhappiness. Joe and Eatonville release abusive authority and attempt to belittle Janie by dwindling self-confidence. Tea Cake provides a feeling of regained youth and happiness, Janie's dream of love and serenity seems real. The courtroom is the harsh and blunt reference to Janie's return into the spotlight and scrutiny. Not only forced to relive her last moments with Tea Cake, Janie is virtually alone, and, if convicted, in jeopardy of having no future at all. Janie becomes more aware of the community around her. Once again, although not for the same reasons, the focus is on Janie herself. The courtroom resolves into a downward direction, Janie cannot remain on the top and satisfied. Tea Cake is gone, Janie is again returned to the honored seat in the center and her actions, beliefs and character are once again judged.
Silence vs. voice
..They all leaned over to listen while she talked...She had to go way back to let them know how she and Tea Cake had been with one another so they oculd seee she could never shoot Tea Cake out of malice...She made them see how she couldn't ever want to be rid of him...She jsut sat there and told and when she was through she hushed..." (185-187). Throughout the novel, we see Janie as topic of discussion at various settings. However, at many points, Janie is unable to clear her voice or speak. In Eatonville, Janie has become so accustom to silence that her snide response to Joe's ridicule seems to send him down a path of uncertainty and depression. Janie's silence, although unfortunate, also holds great power, possibly as much power as her voice. When silent, Janie presents an indifferent attitude towards the other members in the community. Not being there to clear her name or stand up for herself, Janie avoids and disregards the comments by the public. This only causes them to be more confused by Janie and her actions.
In the courtroom, Janie is given an opportunity to explain to the courtroom what occurred the night of Tea Cake's death. Unlike the other judgmental communities she was placed in, the courtroom was inclined to hear Janie's side, interested, and provide the judge with an honest decision as to whether or not Janie is guilty. Janie is given her chance to speak, however the reader does not have a chance to read it, only the description of Janie's intentions and thoughts as she speaks. This might be for two reasons- first to emphasize how little we hear Janie's voice in a group or community at all, but only usually with one-on-one dialogue. The reader understands what Janie feels, but her actual voice tends to be silenced throughout the book. This can be a focus on the women of her time- unable to present themselves so boldly to the world. Janie is independent and different, almost ahead of her time when it comes to her personal dreams of her future. Perhaps silencing a woman like Janie prevents other women from following the same path of independence. Also, the few instances of voice are noticeably influential in the reader's feeling of Janie's tendency to undergo some form of imprisonment. The courtroom heard Janie, the reader does not.
The second reason Janie's actual testimony is not included in the text is because it was presented a few pages before. No need to recap, generally. Instead Hurston focuses on Janie's feelings, how she words her testimony to adequate work the crowd into a feeling of sympathy and understanding, something Janie was never capable of in the first place. This change we see in Janie, working with known dynamics of the audience to create a tie of sympathy where she would otherwise not, shows a growth in Janie. Perhaps Janie knew how to speak effectively in the first place. She only used her tool of persuasion when absolutely needed, thus giving it greater power and effectiveness. Perhaps Janie learned over time how to help people understand her, through oppressive times and uplifting times in the muck, she finally utilizes her ties and friendships to help the crowd relate to herself and her experiences.
The courtroom gives Janie her one and only chance to speak above the rest, to explain herself and all her past experiences, to connect herself with her surrounding community to save her future. Perhaps throughout her silence, Janie's observations of her surrounding communities help her to understand how to speak to her people in order for them to accept her.
