Joe Starks
How many acres of land does Joe Starks buy for the town of Eatonville and from whom does he buy it once he arrives?
He buys 200 acres of land for the town from Captain Eaton
How does Janie feel throughout the chapters? Why does she feel this way?
She feels very controlled, her feelings are suppressed. She’s pressured by Jody to act like a rich, entitled, housewife. Her freedom is taken away.
To what social class do Hicks and the townspeople belong?
Hicks and the townspeople clearly belong to a low social class by both the vulgar manner some of them speak and the fact that they couldn’t or hadn’t been able to organize themselves to form a proper system to administrate the town before Joe Stark arrived.
P49"Speakin’ of winds, he’s de wind and we’se de grass. We bend which ever way he blows..." How can this quote be seen in the marxist lens and what does it show about the town Janie and Joe live in?
The wind represents Joe and the grass represents the people in the town. It can show how based on the social class difference between Joe and the rest of the town, Joe can do as he pleases and the town will listen because of the power he has over everyone.
What does Joe Starks install for the town with his money, and what is the town’s reaction to its installment?
Joe Starks installs a street lamp in the town, and the town becomes very proud and happy because of it. They celebrate a big party in honor of the street lamp being installed, and invite people from all over.
Janie loves helping and meeting new people at the store no matter their social status. What does this represent regarding social classes?
It represents her desire to escape the “rich world”, referring to Jody’s restraints.
Why did the townspeople laugh at Joe Stark when he mentioned buying some land?
The townspeople laugh as they find the idea of an afro american man with enough money to buy a whole lot of acres of land. At that time, no one could imagine that a black man could become successful enough to become rich like the white man.
P39 “Y’all let dat stray darky tell y’all any ole lie! Uh colored sittin’ up in uh post office!” Explain how this can be seen through a marxist lens.
This is a quote tht shows how black are still not used to seeing a black man in power. It displays how unusual it was, people were not used to having a black man with that much power and because of this, in such a high social class compared to the rest in town.
How does Joe Starks try to please Janie?
He uses his money to buy a mule and please Janie because Janie did not want the mule to suffer any more.
60 - How do Janie and Jody change when they get to Eatonville? (through a marxist lense)
Jody is corrupted by power, he only starts caring about his own benefits and fitting a rich standard. Janie’s personality doesn’t change much, she still believes in helping others, freedom, and her overall happiness.
What does the mule represent in the story?
The mule represented slavery. The way the townspeople talk about the mule and how his owner, Walter, made it work, clearly depicts how slaves were pushed to work in the field. How the mule is described shows us how the mule and slaves are being compared for their similarities.
P50"The town had a basketful of feelings good and bad about Joe’s positions and possessions, but none had the temerity to challenge him. they bowed down to him rather, because he was all of these things, and then again he was all of these things because the town bowed down." How could you describe or compare the relationship between Joe and the town based on the quote. Why do you think the relationship is the way it is?
Joe could be in a way seen as a dictator since he leads and controls the town yet if someone disagrees with him, they can’t do nothing about it since Joe has all the power. Joe has too much power, which causes the town to do what they are told.
How does Joe Starks start to distance himself from the other townspeople because of his wealth? (Name at least 2 examples for the point)
He buys a big house, which compared to the house of others in the town is almost like a mansion. They also use a type of sink to spit in, which was what very rich people used in that time. He also builds a store and post office in the town, and runs a man out of town when he tries to steal from him. (Name at least 2 examples for the point)
Throughout the chapters, Janie is controlled by Jody. What does this symbolize according to Hurston?
Jodie is forced to do unpleasant things by Jody. Jody ends up hitting her and Janie is unable to speak up. This is a direct symbolization that lower classes are oppressed AND suppressed by the rich. This ends up in abuse in power and enforces inequalities among groups of people.
What social structure does the town resemble once Joe becomes Mayor?
The social structure that the town begins to resemble is that of the structure of a plantation. The fashion in which Joe Stark orders everyone to work and begins to act as someone better and more important than the other resembles the way plantations worked.
P49"All he got he done made it offa de rest of us. He didn’t have all dat when he come here." Explain how this can be seen through a marxist lens.
Joe got to the town and the people chose him to be the mayor of the town. This shows how the people are upset that they got Joe to get all the power he has, yet he still is not very fond of helping others. Even though he helps, he still does it mostly because he has to as a mayor and not because he wants to.
Whose wife comes begging to Joe Starks for food, and what does Joe Starks do?
Tony Robbins' wife comes begging for food, and Joe Starks does give her a little bit of food but still charges it to Tony Robbins.
Why does Hurston show Janie and Jody’s characters as opposites? What is her purpose? (through a marxist lense)?
Hurston shows a huge contrast between Janie and Jody. Jody is drunk in power, he cares about nothing more than himself, and becomes greedy. Janie however, is humble, she helps the townspeople and has compassion for everyone, even a mule. Through the characterization, Hurston debates that the rich are greedy, whilst lower classes are humble and humane.
How do the conversations between Sam, Lige and Walter parallel to conversations of people in high society(white people)?
The conversation between Sam, Lige and Walter parallels the conversation of white people because their talks are informal and for others entertainment. Their way of conversation was one where they joke around, insulted each other and talked about mundane things. They would also involve or invite everyone to listen for their enjoyment. Meanwhile, most conversations of the white man were over serious matters with a formal tone and with topics of high standard for those with an education.
- P41“Everybody was coming sort of fixed up, and he didn’t mean for nobody else’s wife to rank with her.” Can this be seen through a marxist lens? Why or why not?
Yes, it can show how Jody cared about his social status and how he and Janie should be dressed properly and not be in a way “outshined” by somebody with a lower social class.