Her voice is proven from the beginning when she argued about housework with her first husband, Logan, and it became even more evident in her relationship with her next husband, Joe. She did not speak to Joe often because he did not mean much to her and she did not waste her energy on always arguing with him. But when she found a subject on which she wanted to speak her mind, she always did. Many seem to think that Janie found her voice towards the end of the novel because that is when she spoke most often. Yet the reason she spoke more is becau

Throughout Janie's relationship with her next husband, Joe, she continued to keep her strong voice but showed weakness emotionally. Speaking of "change and chance", Janie was immediately attracted to Joe Starks. This is exactly what Janie wanted at the time: a change from her life with Logan and a second chance at life and love. But the change and chance that Joe was speaking of was very different than what Janie wanted or expected. He was not looking for love or a companion, but instead wanted to use Janie to promote his image as a leader for his new plans to start a black community. Janie soon realized this after it was too late. Her life with Joe was horrible. Joe rarely said a word to her or even looked at her after awhile, and instead was too involved in his business. He was very controlling of her life, never even wanting to hear what she had to say. When being inducted into office as the town mayor, the townspeople wanted to hear some words from Janie, but Joe would not allow this, saying, "Thank yuh fuh yo' compliments, but mah wife don't know nothin' bout no speech-makn'. Ah never married her for nothin' lak dat. She's uh woman and her place is in de home." The fact that Janie never talked back and always kept out of Joe's way (instead of confronting him or running away from him) shows that Joe's abuse was making Janie emotionally weak. Janie's emotional weakness at this time becomes obvious when Joe forces her to work in his store all day without any grievance or objection from her.

Janie most often showed her natural strong voice in her time spent with her next husband, Tea Cake. Alone and lonesome in Joe's store, a handsome man named Vergible Woods came in to buy some cigarettes. Janie was instantly attracted to his good looks and the fact that (unlike most men that talked to Janie after Joe's death) he did not seem like he wanted something from her. While Joe said that Janie didn't have the brains to learn how to play checkers, Tea Cake (Vergible's nickname) knew better and had no doubts, asking her for a game on his first visit. Though reluctant at first, Janie could not help but love him and she eventually ran off and married him. Her life with Tea Cake was like nothing she had experienced before. It was exactly like what she had dreamed of when she was younger. Though he was not rich or powerful like Joe, he treated Janie like a woman and truly loved her back. While she rarely spoke with Joe, she could hardly keep her mouth closed when she was with Tea Cake. Yet by just looking in each other's eyes, they could express the deep love they felt for one another. Many critics believe that Janie found her voice towards the end of the novel because that is when she talked the most, but this is not the case. The reason she used her voice more at this point is because she had someone to use it on. Though she always had her strong voice, Tea Cake gave her a reason to use it.

In Janie's first relationship with Logan, it becomes clear that Janie had both her voice and emotional strength. Expecting that marriage would bring love, Janie married a farme

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Approximate Word count = 2104
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)