Joe's Leadership
Joe builds this to represent progress in Eatonville.
What is the streetlight?
At first, the town feels this way about Joe.
What is admiration/respect?
Joe places himself at the top of this in Eatonville.
What is a social hierarchy?
Joe prevents Janie from doing this at the ceremony.
What is giving a speech?
This object symbolizes both progress and ego.
What is the streetlight?
Joe wants to become this kind of figure in the town.
What is a “big voice” (leader)?
The town begins to “murmur hotly” about this being over.
What is slavery?
This system is echoed when townspeople compare Joe to a slave master.
What is slavery?
Joe believes Janie’s place is here.
What is in the home?
This symbolizes Joe’s control over Janie.
What is her hair/head rag?
This action shows Joe forcing control over the town’s labor.
What is making the townspeople dig the ditch?
The town compares Joe’s home to this.
What is the “big house”?
Hurston suggests communities often do this with power.
What is recreate/re-entrench oppressive systems?
Janie feels this emotion after Joe silences her.
What is cold/lonely?
The phrase “took the bloom off” connects back to this earlier symbol.
What is the pear tree?
Joe’s leadership can be seen as inspiring OR this negative trait.
What is hubris (excessive pride)?
Even though they complain, the town ultimately does this to Joe.
What is bow down to him?
This novel we read earlier also shows power being recreated after rebellion.
What is Animal Farm?
This detail shows the growing distance between Janie and Joe.
What is her walking behind him?
Hurston uses Joe to critique this within Black communities.
What is power/leadership hierarchies?
Joe’s behavior weakens people by doing this.
What is asserting dominance / controlling others?
This explains why the town cannot challenge Joe’s authority.
What is fear or acceptance of hierarchy?
Joe’s power depends on this from the townspeople.
What is their obedience/submission?
Joe limits Janie’s power by controlling this.
What is her voice/identity?
Hurston suggests this about power overall.
What is that power can corrupt and recreate oppression?