Blog Post Ch. 13-14

Chapter 13-14
Discussion Questions:
  1. What do you think could’ve led Janie to want to seek a better life in Eatonville?
  2. What could lead Tea Cake to do so much for Janie? Do you believe they are as in love as they say they are? A reality they are trying to hide?
  3. What do you think is the importance of the horizon throughout the novel, and especially at this point in the story?
  4. Do you think that Janie’s journey with her lovers, and the places she’s lived, represents something deeper in her life? Why or why not?
  5. Can Tea Cake’s actions towards Janie  resemble his name, or have any significance in regards to his name? Why or why not?

Characters:
  • Who Flung: Charmind rascal who ripped the people of Eatonville off, and the widow
  • Mrs. Tyler: ripped off by Who Flung
Illustration:
Summary:

Janie no longer resides in Eatonville and goes to Jacksonville, where she and Teacake have planned their marriage. Janie’s paranoia increased, and didn’t want to be ripped off, so she carried close to two hundred dollars pinned in her shirt. As Teacake wasn’t aware of this, she later realizes that the money would be missing. As Teacake leaves for  breakfast, Janie realizes that the money is missing and tries to piece what could’ve happened to her money. She remembers that the widow in Eatonville, Mrs. Tyler has been ripped off by someone who went by the name of Who Flung. When Teacake returns from breakfast, he finds that Janie is worried, and stressed out. He realizes that she is upset because of the money, and he confesses that he took it out of excitement. He bought a big chicken, and a macaroni dinner for himself and his coworkers. He explains that this led to a party with drinks and arguments. So Janie feels excluded when she realizes she had no invitation to this event, and Teacake explains that he didn’t do so out of fear. He feared that Janie would be too “high maintenance,” and that the party wouldn’t be suitable for her and what she’s used to. She vows that she will enjoy everything he does for her, and isn’t as high maintenance as she’s thought to be. Teacake also promises Janie that he would reimburse her from his gambling, so he goes off on a Saturday. As time passes, and he doesn’t return, Janie worries, but nevertheless, he returns bruised up. He was cut with a razor by an angry person who lost, but returns with three-hundred and twenty-two dollars. As Janie gains trust in Teacake, she tells him about her bank account, and Teacake tells her that it would be of no use since he will be working/providing for her. So they leave to Everglades for the work. There, Teacake picks beans during the day, and plays guitar while rolling the dice in the evening. He plants beans, teaches Janie how to shoot a gun, they go hunting, and Janie shoots better than Teacake himself. Eventually, poor transients pour into the muck in droves to be able to farm the land. So the houses are taken and people are forced to camp out in the fields. Tea Cake’s home becomes the home center of the community and people listen to music and play music there. Janie stays at home, and does the domestic work, while Tea Cake works, but soon begin to miss each other tremendously. So together, they join each other in the fields, and with their overalls they work.

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