Lin 1 Raymond Lin Mrs.

Maxon Period 6 29 January 2014 Words Said to Never Said Janie did what she had never done before, that is, thrust herself into the conversation. Sometimes God git familiar wid us womenfolks too and talks his inside business. He told me how surprised yall is goin tuh be if you ever found out, you dont know half as much bout us as you think you do. Its so easy to make yoself out God Almighty when you aint got nothin tuh strain against but women and chickens. You getting too moufy, Janie, Starks told her. Go fetch me de checker board and de checkers (Hurston 75). The Situation: Janie has begun communicating with her friends back at the store porch. They were arguing about women and talking about how women dont know much based on their own narrow-mindedness. As a result, Janie decided to take a stand for the womenfolks and tell them out. Unfortunate ly however, Jody spies her taking action and consequently silences her with his command. Mood: The mood of this passage is very complex because at first when Janie speaks out the mood is hopeful and ambitious, but when Joe Starks arrives to the scene, the mood darkens to suspense. To elaborate further, the author creates an image where women are beginning to be accepted to the point that their voices are heard. However, as soon as Joe Starks appears, the author begins to illustrate that not all women are viewed in this new manner because at the time of the novel, women were still commonly seen as objects of possession. Connection to Theme: This quotation is significant because it demonstrates the power of voice. Utilizing a womans position in the past, the author shows how speech and silence are powerful. When Janie is allowed to speak, she is able to correct the mens incorrect thoughts about women. Contrarily however, when Janie is silent, or more accurately forced silent, thoughts are also conveyed.

Lin 2 Thoughts of spite and wishful thoughts of being able to speak arouse a persons will. So when Janie was allowed to speak, Janie successfully told the men her standpoint about how men dont know half as much as they think they do. So Janie receives feelings of prowess along from influencing men. Ironically however, from Janies silence, Jody receives feelings of prowess by commanding Janie into silence. Therefore the power of silence and speech both supply similar emotions and thoughts amongst people.