A Passage from Chapter
10
Chapter 10: "Their Eyes Were Watching God"
Passage:
“Good evenin’, Miss Starks,”
he said with a sly grin as if they had a good joke together. She was in favor of the story that was making him
laugh before she even heard it.
“Good evenin’,” she answered pleasantly. “You got all
de advantage’ cause Ah don’t; know yo’ name.”
“People wounldn’t know me lak dey would you.”
“Ah guess standin’ in uh stre do make uh person git tuh be known in de vicinity.
Look lak Ah seen you somewhere.”
“Oh, Ah don’t live no further than Orlandah. Ah’m easy
tuh see on Church Street most any day or night. You got any smokin’ tobacco?”
She opened the glass case. “What kind?”
“Camels.”
She handed over the cigarettes and took the money. He
broke he pack and thrust one between his full, purple lips.
“You got a lil piece uh fire over dere, lady?”
They both laughed and she handed him two kitchen matches out of a box for
that purpose. It was time for him to go but he didn’t. He leaned on the counter
with one elbow and cold cocked her a look.
“Why ain’t you at the ball game, too? Everybody else is dere.” “Well, Ah
see somebody else besides me ain’t dere. Ah just sold some cigarettes.” They
laughed again.
"Dat's cause Ah'm dumb. Ah got de thing all mixed up. Ah thought de game
was gointuh be out at Hungerford. So Ah got uh ride tuh where dis road turns
off from de Dixie Highway and walked over here and then Ah find out de game
is in Winter Park."
'That was funny to both of them too."
"So what you gointuh do now? All the cars in Eatonville is gone."
"How about playin' you some checkers? You looks hard
to beat." (95)
Comments:
This sentence indicates that Miss Starks is enjoying
her first meeitng with a charming potential suitor.
back to passage
This sentence allows the reader to feel Janie's sense
of wonder and mystery for the man who has entered her store.
back to passage
This statement refers to Janies insecurity with not
knowing the name of her newly aquainted friend.
back to passage
This mention by Tea Cake that he is easy to see on
Church Street most any day or night refers to his persuasive ability to allow
Janie to find comfort in him being religious man. He is attempting to
pursue things with Janie upon meeting her and with this he does his best by
being charming , humble nad religiuos in nature.
back to passage
This example of the power that Tea Cake assumes by
placing a cigareete between his lips and the sexual refrence made by Janie
is the first time we truley see her sexual desires which assist in her journey
of self-discovery.
back to passage
Janie has finally found a match as we see by the
mention of continung their aquaintence over a game of checkers. Again we see
Tea Cake on his best behavior assuring Janie that he is a gentleman and that
she has some idenity so long as she played well with him.
back to passage