Janie

Janie is a very opinionated character. She really sticks to what she believes in. She will not let others dictate the way she lives her life. Janie, as a young adult, was searching for love. She thinks she finds love with Logan Killicks. Janie soon realizes she really isn't happy with Logan and meets Joe Starks. Soon after she meets Joe, she leaves Logan (they had been married for less than a year) and marries Joe. She admires Joe for his strong ambition and drive. At first Janie admired Joe's determination but soon realizes his need for control and power. Janie feels very restrained and unhappy in her relationship. "A feeling of coldness and fear took hold of her. She felt far away from things and lonely." Joe believed he had the right to do these things and boss her around and dictate her actions. Joe did not view Janie as an equal, he almost viewed her as an accessory or pet, as if she were his property. He made her wear a head rag because other men would look at her head and Joe was jealous. "This business of the head-rag irked her endlessly. But Jody was set on it. Her hair was NOT going to show in the store. It didn't seem sensible at all. That was because Joe never told Janie how jealous he was." Joe was very focused on being seen as a strong power figure, because of this he kept his emotions to himself so as not to be seen as weak. "The years took all the fight out of Janie’s face. For a while she thought it was gone from her soul. No matter what Jody did, she said nothing. She had learned how to talk some and leave some. She was a rut in the road. Plenty of life beneath the surface but it was kept beaten down by the wheels." Their relationship was very toxic. They were married for twenty years before Joe died. Now Jody is with Tea Cake and I think she is much happier.