Journal #10

Theme: Humans’ physical experiences are given importance by their psychological perception of the event. Reactions to similar circumstances are not necessarily comparably linear, but instead can be transcended by a strong, internal emotional or intellectual interpretation.

(experiences vs. event – singular/plural contradiction?)

(Event = vague)

(experiences – vague)

(interpretation maybe not the right word. Opinion? Investment? Connotation of situation?)

(transcended may not be the best word either. Perhaps ‘changed’? “outweighed’? ‘superseded’?)

#1. “’Lawd, Ah know dat grass-gut, liver-lipted nigger ain’t done took and beat mah baby already! Ah’ll take a stick and salivate ‘im’” (21)

#2. “’no’m, he ain’t even talked ‘bout hittin’ me. He says he never mean to lay de weight uh his hand on me in malice’” (21)

#3. “Ah feel de same way ‘bout Mr. Killicks too. Some folks never was meant to be loved and he’s one of ‘em.’ […] ‘’Cause Ah hates de way his head is so long one way and so flat on de sides and dat pone uh fat back uh his neck.’ […] ‘Ah don’t keer who made it, Ah don’t like de job.” (23)

#4. “He don’t even never mention nothin’ pretty.’ She began to cry. “Ah wants things sweet wid mah marriage lak when you sit under a pear tree and think.” (23)

#5. “Janie pumped it off until she got a good look at the man. He talked friendly while he drank” (26-27)

#6. “He [Jody] spoke for change and chance. Still she hung back. The memory of Nanny was still powerful and strong” (28)

#7. “Even if Joe was not there waiting for her, the change was bound to do her good.” (31)

#8. Pg. 26 – description of how awesome Jody starts out as (For future reference)

#9. “’Nigger, whut’s yo’ baby doin’ wid gray eyes and yaller hair? She begin tuh slap mah jaws ever which a’way. Ah never felt the fust ones ‘cause Ah wuz too busy gittin’ de kivver back over mah chile. But dem last lick burnt me lak fire.” (17)

#10. “Yeah, naw. People don’t die till dey time come nohow, don’t keer where you at. Ah’m wid mah husband in uh storm, dat’s all” (151)

#11. “If you kin see de light at daybreak, you don’t keer if you die at dusk. It’s so many people never seen de light at all” (151)

#12. “’Yeah, you did.’ She didn’t say this because she believed it. She wanted to hear his denial. She had to crow over the fallen Nunkie.”

#13. Pg. 135 – Janie loves Tea Cake

#14. “She felt honored by Janie’s acquaintance and she quickly forgave and forgot snubs in order to keep it. Anyone who looked more white folkish than herself was better than she was in her criteria […]” (138

#15. “Before the week was over he had whipped Janie. […] He just slapped her around a bit to show he was boss. […] the helpless way she hung on him made men dream dreams. […] ‘Janie is wherever Ah wants tuh be. Dat’s de kind uh wife she is and Ah lover her for it.” (141)

#16. “Ah didn’t whup Janie ‘cause she don nothin’. Ah beat her tuh show dem Turners who is boss.” (141)

#17. Pg. 130-132

#18. “’Dat would be fine, Tea Cake, exceptin’ you know Ah can’t shoot. But Ah’d love tuh go wid you.” (124)

#19. “They could sell the hides land teeth in Palm Beach besides having fun together till work got pressing” (125) – NOTE: Selling the hides is BESIDES having fun, therefore, having fun > the selling.

#20. “That was something Tea Cake loved so no matter if Janie had fixed beans two or three times during the week, they had baked beans again on Sunday.

#21. “Janie, Ah gits lonesome out dere all day ‘thout yuh. After dis, you betta come git uh job uh work out dere lak de rest uh de women – so Ah won’t be losin’ time comin’ home’” (126-127) – NOTE: She left Logan for making her do the same thing

#22. “Sometimes Janie would think of the old days in the big white house and the store and laugh to herself. What if Eatonville could see her now in her blue denim overalls and heavy shoes? […] She was sorry for her friends back there and scornful of the others. […] Only here, she could listen and laugh and even talk some herself if she wanted to.” (127-128) – NOTE: Less wealth/status not important without meaning.

#23. Pg. 122. Janie is ok with Tea Cake male pride (esp. $) but she wasn’t for Jody.

#24. Pg. 112 Conversatoin vs. Friendly conversation (too obvious/general?)

#25. “She had waited all her life for something, and it had killed her when it found her.” (114)

#26. “’Cause Tea Cake ain’t no Jody Starks, and if he tried tuh be, it would be uh complete flommck. […] Dis ain’t no business proposition, and no race after property and titles. Dis is uh love game. Ah done lived Grandma’s way, now Ah means tuh live mine.” (108)

#27. Pg. 85

(This Journal appears late due to lack of internet connection)