Joe Starks is at the store when he stops at Janie's for a drink.
Janie is initially attracted to Joe Starks because of his charisma, confidence, and ambition. He promises her a better life and offers her the opportunity for independence and social status, which she desires. However, over time Janie realizes that Joe is more controlling and oppressive than she initially thought, leading to disillusionment in their relationship.
The town resents Joe Starks because he is seen as an outsider trying to assert his authority over them. They feel he is arrogant and disrespectful, and they are wary of his intentions towards Janie and the influence he may have over her. Furthermore, Joe's ambitious and controlling nature clashes with the close-knit and communal values of Eatonville.
Janie married Joe Starks shortly after they met. She saw him as an opportunity for a better life and a chance to escape the monotony of her current situation.
Janie Mae Crawford Killicks Starks Woods (yes...that's all one person. She was married 3 times. Crawford is her maiden name, Killicks is from first husband Logan Killicks, Starks is from second husband Joe Starks, and Woods is from third husband Vergible Woods/Tea Cake.)
Logan wants Janie for labor on his farm and treats her as a workhorse, showing a traditional, oppressive side of Janie. Joe Starks, on the other hand, seeks Janie as a trophy wife to elevate his status in the community, revealing her more assertive and independent side. Their motivations are driven by selfish desires for control and societal recognition, respectively.
Yes. Starks introduces himself to Janie as "Joe," but later in the same chapter asks Janie to "call me Jody lak you do sometime," suggesting that Jody is a nickname Janie created.
Joe Starks and Janie went to the town of Eatonville, Florida, where Joe established himself as a prominent figure by becoming the mayor and a successful businessman. Janie also gained respect in the community for her elegance and poise.
Janie's emergence as a person is marked by her journey towards self-realization and independence. Her three husbands - Logan Killicks, Joe Starks, and Tea Cake - each played a role in shaping her understanding of love, power, and identity. Logan represented traditional values but stifled her self-expression, Joe provided material comfort but imposed his own vision on her, while Tea Cake offered a more equal and loving partnership that allowed Janie to flourish as her own person. Ultimately, through her marriages, Janie learned to navigate societal expectations and assert her own agency in defining her happiness.
Jody Starks initially treats Janie with a mix of admiration and possessiveness. He is determined to elevate her status in Eatonville, but his controlling nature stifles her individuality and voice. As their relationship progresses, Jody becomes increasingly domineering and dismissive, often belittling her and neglecting her emotional needs. This oppressive dynamic ultimately leads to Janie feeling trapped and unfulfilled in their marriage.
The town of Eatonville serves as a setting that symbolizes freedom and independence for the main character, Janie. It is where Janie finds a sense of belonging and autonomy, allowing her to explore her identity and pursue her own desires. Eatonville represents a place where Janie can assert her individuality and break free from societal expectations.
Janie Crawford's (Killick's, Starks', Wood's) grandmother in Their Eyes Were Watching God.