Discussion Questions Ch. 13-14

  1. 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?
  • Since Tea Cake used up her money, he probably felt guilty for using it and he probably really wanted to show Janie that he wasn’t a leech, so he went and won the money from gambling. They probably are very much in love but there are obstacles that make readers think otherwise, but to them, they only see that they are in love.
  • Tea Cake maybe wanted to show Janie that he can rely on him even when he messes up. Although a couple can say they’re in love, they show signs of not being in love. In this case, they show that they’re in love by the actions they take and the things they say (i.e Tea Cake saying he will provide for Janie).
  1. 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?
  • It may represent how there are many ups and downs in life. It may also represent that life brings you to unexpected ends.
  • Janie’s life journey may represent life is full of unexpected twists and turns. From the things Janie has encountered, she has chosen to learn from them and move on to a point where she loves herself and wants overall happiness in her life no matter what.
  1. Can Tea Cake’s actions towards Janie  resemble his name, or have any significance in regards to his name? Why or why not?

  • Tea Cake’s name can mean a combination of two sweet things that one can have for dessert. Just like he came late into Janie’s life, dessert is served late in the day. However, Janie still got a chance to have a man in her life that she really wanted, just like a person really wants sweets and eventually gets them.
  • Tea Cake’s actions toward Janie are sweet and sometimes bland. For example, it was sweet when he told her that he would go and get the money he used of hers, back. It was “bland” when he didn’t invite her to the party that he had with Janie’s money. The sweet is the cake and the “bland” is the tea which can sometimes be drinked with or without tea.

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