Journal 6

Janie and Tea Cake had been doing almost everything together, and people were getting worried about her. "Tea Cake and Janie gone hunting. Tea Cake and Janie gone fishing. Tea Cake and Janie gone to Orlando to the movies. Tea Cake and Janie gone to a dance"(110). Hurston uses repetition to emphasize the time Janie spends with Tea Cake. Most of the characters in the book are stunned and a little annoyed by how much time Janie and Tea Cake spend together. By listing almost everything they do together, Hurston tried to give the reader the same feeling as the characters in the book.

Janie tries to tell herself Tea Cake is no good, but finds it hard to do. "He was a glance from God"(106). Hurston uses a metaphor to emphasize the quality of Tea Cake. The metaphor suggests he is a once in a lifetime sort of person who should not be overlooked. It was as if God had sent him. Tea Cake is rich in love, but poor in material posessions, just like religious people who give up everything they have to serve God. Tea Cake is also the exact opposite of Joe Starks, which is probably another quality that attracts Janie.

Pheoby is skeptical about Janie's marriage plan with Tea Cake, but Janie tries to reassure her."Ah'm older than Tea Cake, yes. But he done showed me where it's de thought dat makes de difference in ages"(115). Hurston uses this passage to help foil Tea Cake and Joe Starks. Joe obsessed over age, proper etiquette, and material posessions, while Tea Cake goes outside the box and has no money. Tea Cake spends everything he has on Janie to try to win her heart, while Joe bought her things long enough so she couldn't say he didn't do anything for her. Tea Cake also has more faith in women than Joe did. Joe didn't let her do anything, while Tea Cake is taking her out hunting. Joe and Tea Cake are almost the exact opposite.

Motif: "He could be a bee to a blossom-a pear tree blossom in the spring"(106).

Conflict:All next day in the house and store she thought resisting thoughts about Tea Cake. She even ridiculed him in her mind and was a little ashamed of the association. But every hour or two the battle had to be fought all over again"(106).