Their Eyes Were Watching God​ Journal/Analysis Entries
Directions​: Use the template below to write your entries. Be sure each entry is thorough. Focus
on BOTH interpretation (what does the excerpt mean) and analysis (how does the excerpt
inform/form an interpretation of the text/scene).
Journal Entry #: 4 Chapters: 13-16
Excerpt (cited) Motif
”Way late in the morning the Male
thought of Annie Tyler … came Domination
to pay her a visit. Annie Tyler
who at fifty-two had been left a
widow with a good home and
insurance money. Mrs. Tyler
with her dyed hair, newly
straightened and her
uncomfortable new false teeth,
her leathery skin, blotchy with
powder and her giggle. Her love
affairs, affairs with boys in their
late teens or early twenties for
all of whom she spent her
money on suits of clothes,
watches, and things like that
and how they all left her as
soon as their wants were
satisfied” (118).
Interpretation and Analysis
Interpretation: ​ In this anecdote, the
wealthy widow, Ms. Tyler, is taken
advantage of by many young suitors.
Janie fears that this may be what
happens to her with Tea Cake being so
much poorer than she.
Analysis: ​This short anecdote is
important to the surface-level storyline,
but it also serves as an example of how
dominating the male community is at this
time in history. Ms. Tyler’s suitors find no
flaw in taking advantage of the lonely, sad
woman, as the time period still views
women as overly emotional and easily
manipulated. Janie fears that Tea Cake
may use his manly power to take
advantage of her. While they seem to be
deeply in love, there are a few times
throughout the story where Tea Cake
takes advantage of Janie: most
commonly when Tea Cake just leaves for
hours on end without so much as a
warning to Janie. This indirect sort of
control may not be outright, but it still gets
the point across that men at this time
were seen as the dominant gender.