Synopsis

About the story:

By: Abigail Johnson

The story begins with the main character, Janie, coming balk to her home town after a long time away. Many people wonder what happened to her, and begin to talk about what they think happened to her. To get the truth, Janie's good friend Pheoby visits her and Janie then tells the story of her life to Pheoby. She then begins by telling Pheoby about how she was raised by her grandmother, "Nanny,"who was a very kind, loving person, but had an unusual view on life. She wants Janie to marry as soon as possible, even though Janie fantasizes about a romantic relationship, Nanny wants Janie to marry a man who is in good social standing and also rich. Janie finds a man named Logan, who is an old farmer, for Janie to marry. She does not like living with Logan, he makes her work very hard and does not express his love toward her.

One day, a young man named Joe Starks, called "Jody," comes to the farm. He is a very interesting person and Janie starts to fall for him charm and charismatic talking and they soon end up running away to get married. They move to a small town where Jody becomes mayor and also runs a store. They are married for many years, As Jody gets older, his appearance and self esteem seem to weaken. He takes out his unhappiness on Janie. She has to sit there and listen to him criticize her. She keeps very quiet and lets Jody criticize her. The many years of criticism take their toll on Janie and one day in the store she harshly criticizes Jody. He then gets upset and embarrassed and decides not to talk to her for a while. Jody's health begins to grow weaker and weaker while lying in bed slowly dying Janie confronts him one last time. As if he can;t take the criticism, Jody dies. Janie provides a proper burial even though she is happy with her freedom.

Janie begins her new life as a single person, and running the store alone. One day, a man who is twelve years younger than Janie comes into the store. He flirts with Janie but, she tries to avoid it thinking he only wants her for her money. He persists and she starts to fall for him. After the man, called "Tea Cake." continues to show commitment to her for sometime. She finally agrees to marry him and they then move to a different town. A little while into their lives together, Tea Cake steals some money from Janie and spends it foolishly, he then gambles and tries to get it back. Unfortunately after he wins the money is then stolen from him.

They then go to the everglades where they get a job working in the fields. A young girl flirts with Tea Cake and this upsets Janie. Tea Cake then promises he would only love her to set her at ease. Sometime later a large hurricane hits the area. Janie and Tea Cake try to run away but they are caught by it. In the process of running away Tea Cake is bitten by a dog with rabies and gets infected. A few weeks after getting infected Tea Cake's health and sanity start to deteriorate. At one time in the heat of his madness he grabs a gun and tries to shoot Janie. She then takes another gun and shoots him. She Deeply misses Tea Cake, but knows it was for the best. She goes on trial, but is not convicted. She then moves back to her home town, thus the predicament she found herself in, in the beginning of the story. When she goes to her home she finally feels peaceful in the end.