By Ragan Glover and Juhin Patel

Janie Celie

Jane

Janie

Author: Zora Neale Hurston

Setting: Central and Southern Florida, Early 20th century

Major Characters: Janie, Logan Killicks, Tea Cake, Joe Starks, Pheoby, Nanny Crawford

Movie: Directed by Darnell Martin, released in 2005

• Janie looks for “Sun-up and pollen and blooming trees” in her life.

• At first, Janie’s intentions are to end her loneliness; she hopes to find true love.

• However, as Janie matures she wants freedom to do, think, and act as she pleases without the restraints of her nanny, husbands or society holding her down.

• Nanny’s desires and standards present obstacles for Janie to overcome and learn from. (i.e. growing to love Logan, marriage based on assets rather than love). Each of Janie’s marriages presents a new obstacle for her.

• Janie’s relationship with Logan Killicks is an obstacle because she must learn to submit to her husband and obey his commands for labor.

• Janie’s relationship with Joe Starks presents the obstacle of Janie learning to suppress her voice and opinion.

• Later in Janie and Joe’s relationship, Janie must overcome the obstacle of learning to speak up for herself; she does this when she [robs Joe Starks] of his illusion of irresistible maleness that all men cherish.”

• Janie’s decision to be with Tea Cake is an important obstacle in that Janie defies societal expectations.

• Janie learns to overcome the obstacle of accepting herself as an equal in regards to Tea Cake

• The decision to shoot Tea Cake, Janie’s true love, is an important obstacle that Janie overcomes to become an independent woman.

• Janie’s decision to move back to Eatonville alone is an obstacle that proves Janie’s independence.

• Johnny Taylor: Janie kisses Johnny outside of her Nanny’s house, which serves as a

catalyst to her marriage with Logan.• Logan Killicks: Janie’s marriage to Logan is

arranged by her Nanny. The two’s marriage is the result of Nanny’s

desires for Janie to do well in life. Because Logan is well off, holding 60

acres, Nanny insists upon the marriage. After they become married, Logan treats Janie as a laborer, not as an equal.

• Joe Starks: Joe Starks liberates Janie from her marriage to Logan Killicks. Joe expects Janie to submit to his authority and

places her in an emotional and almost physical prison. Because Joe is an insecure

husband, he ridicules Janie and limits her interaction with others.

• Tea Cake: Tea Cake liberates Janie from the life she knew with Joe Starks. Tea Cake teaches Janie many new things including rifle shooting, checkers playing, and fishing. Furthermore, Tea Cake serves as

freedom from societal expectations and represents Janie’s growth into independence

At the end of the story, Janie returns to Eatonville alone instead of staying in the Everglades. In Eatonville, Janie recounts her story of love and loss, heartache and happiness. As the story closes it is evident that Janie has finally found the peace and independence that she has searched for her entire life.

Author: Alice Walker

Setting: Rural Georgia, Early 1930s

Major Characters: Celie, Nettie, Shug Avery, Harpo, Sofia, “Mr.”

Albert

Movie: Directed by Steven Spielberg, released in 1985

Celie

•Celie dreams of being reunited with her children who were taken away as they were born. •After Celie is forced into an arranged marriage, she dreams of reconnecting with her sister.•After Celie’s sister (Nettie) comes and is forced to leave from Celie and “Mr.” Alberts’s home, Celie dreams of receiving letters from her sister.•When she is married of to Albert, she find herself physically and verbally abused, thus she dreams of finding someone to admire and love.•Celie dreams of finding success in her clothing business after she leaves “Mr.” Avery

•Celie overcoming her supposed father’s molestation.

•Celie becoming submissive to her husband and being in an arranged marriage.

•Celie being separated from her sister, Nettie.

•Celie learning to appreciate herself and not to hide her beauty.

•Celie’s decision to leave “Mr.” Albert and live with Shug Avery

•Celie’s growth, and her start of a clothing business.

•Celie’s reunion with “Mr.” Albert and her children

•Celie’s first relationship with a man occurs with her father. Her father sexually molests her. When Celie gives birth to her two children, her father takes them away immediately and allows another family to adopt them.

•Celie’s second relationship with a man occurs when she enters an arranged marriage. Her husband, who she refers to as “Mr.” is very similar to her father. “Mr.,” whose real name is Albert, mistreats Celie and takes advantage of her. Essentially, “Mr.” uses Celie to take care of his children from his previous wife.

•Even though Celie’s third relationship does not occur with a man, Celie’s relationship with Shug Avery is extremely significant to her development. Shug Avery teaches Celie that she too can feel loved and she too can have affection in a relationship.

•Celie’s fourth relationship with a man occurs after she gains independence. Even though her fourth relationship is with her former husband, Albert, the new relationship is characterized by mutual respect for one another

Celie grows from an insecure and unloved woman to a confident and loved woman. Her movement is characterized by her meeting Shug Avery, understanding her personal needs, leaving “Mr.” Albert,” opening her own business, and reuniting with her family. Shug Avery taught Celie a lot about herself and what her personal and physical needs were. Furthermore, because of Shug Avery, Celie gains the courage to walk away from her relationship with “Mr.” Albert and open her own business. As the story ends, Celie reunites with her family and also with “Mr.” Albert as a secure, stable, and sucessful woman.

Author: Ernest J. Gaines

Setting: Early 1960’s

Major Characters: Jane Pittman, Joe Pittman, Master Bryant, Mary, Trooper Brown, Jimmy, Ned, and Mr. Bone

Movie: Directed by John Korty, released in 1974

Miss Jane Pittman

•Jane Pittman dreams of freedom from slavery

•After the “slave finders” kill everyone else, Jane Pittman dreams of reaching Ohio to find Trooper Brown

•Jane dreams of finding love

•In response to Ned and Jimmy’s death, Jane dreams of making a difference in the Civil Rights Movement.

•Jane’s first obstacle comes when her mother dies and she must work to take care of white children on a slave plantation.

•Jane’s second obstacle arises when she must take on a new identity and go from being known as “Ticey” to “Jane.” (Jane must endure beatings by her master)

•Jane’s third obstacle occurs when she decides to make the long walk to Ohio to meet Trooper Brown.

•Jane fourth obstacle occurs when she must work for a reduced pay at Mr. Bone’s plantation, pay for Ned’s schooling, and raise Ned by herself.

• Jane’s fifth obstacle occurs when she and Ned must separate to save Ned’s life.

• Jane’s sixth obstacle is when her true love, Joe Pittman, dies and is left alone.

• Jane’s seventh obstacle is when she decides to act in the Civil Right movement following Ned and Jimmy’s lead (Ned and Jimmy die in their Civil Rights pursuits).

•Jane’s first relationship with a male is small, but significant. Trooper Brown informs Janie that she will soon be free, and he bestows her with a new name(Jane Brown) and ultimate a new identity.

•Jane’s relationship with Ned occurs when all the other slaves are murdered by the “slave finders.” Jane Pittman takes it upon herself to care for Ned and pay for his schooling on Mr. Bone’s plantation.

• Jane Pittman meets and marries Joe Pittman within a short span of time. Joe Pittman is employed at a ranch where he breaks horses near the Texas-Louisiana border. After many years of their marriage, Jane becomes increasingly nervous about Joe’s risky job. Janie’s fears become a reality when Joe Pittman is killed by a horse.

• Ned’s relationship with Jane is reestablished when he relocated his family to where Jane lives.

Jane Pittman tells a reporter her story of love and loss in her 110 years of life. As the story closes, Jane Pittman decides to participate in the Civil Rights Movement by drinking water from the water fountain for whites only. Jane Pittman’s decision is significant because Jimmy was killed for that same action. Because of her bravery, many people join Jane Pittman in a march for Civil Rights.

This Concludes Our Presentation