Traditional relationships
In a relationship, the participants involved often take up different roles and positions, mostly in relation to their gender. Quite often, the male acts as the dominant voice while the female is portrayed as submissive because this strategy is begotten from the history of most cultures. The exchange between Jody Sparks and Janie reveals that Jody is the dominant force in their marriage as Janie appears to be submissive. Therefore this exchange portrays marriage as a relationship in which the male is dominant over the female. Moreover, these kinds of relationships are based on the context of the traditional society.
This couple disagrees over how Jody had lived his life by treating people as lesser. When Janie points out that Jody was an arrogant man who would only listen to his reasoning, he attempts to silence her. Additionally, Janie is more deserving of sympathy than Jody. As a wife to Jody, she has completely no say in any matter. “All dis bowin’ down, all dis obedience under yo’ voice—dat ain’t whut Ah rushed off down de road tuh find out about you.”(Hurston, 1937). This text proves that Janie submits completely to Jody.
Furthermore, the man Janie married does not turn out as she had expected. According to Hurston (1937), Janie says that Jody is no longer the man she had run off the road to marry. This statement reflects the disappointment she has to endure. Therefore, Janie does reap enough benefits from this marriage to make her a proud participant.
The talk between the characters exhibits their marriage as that of a traditional kind, where males make all the big decisions, and thus, he reaps most of the benefits incurred in marriage. Moreover, the wife is treated as a subject while the husband makes himself the king of the household. This kind of relationship does not allow for any gender balance to exist. Conclusively, the women in traditional marriages, as was the case with Janie, are not allowed to air their opinions.
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