I have to admit that, while authentic
and most definitely needed, I find the dialect somewhat maddening. Although not
much different than the dialect of Huck Finn, I feel like it makes my reading
process a little bit slower and tedious.
Regardless, I enjoy this story so
far. An interesting dynamic is added
when a story beings at the end, as this one does. The reader has to spend the first few pages in
a state of wonderment and confusion trying to figure out what is
happening. As someone mentioned in
class, this story is also interesting in that the dialect changes when the narrator
speaks. I kind of like that… maybe just because it gives me a break from the
dialect but it also adds to the story.
Something that struck me in these
chapters was the difference between Janie’s views of love and her grandmothers.
Janie wants the romance, excitement, and attraction. Her grandmother, on the
other hand, almost discourages Jaime from this. She perceives love in a
different manner; to her it solely brings comfort and stability. Physical
attraction is not needed. “Nanny” clearly had a very difficult life and only
wants the best for her granddaughter. Janie can’t understand her ways of
thinking because she is young and naïve. However, this may not be a bad thing;
although she does marry Logan Killicks, she soon decides to make her own
choices and leaves him for Joe Starks. She wants something more for her life and acts
upon that desire.
I noticed that while she was
married to Logan, Janie didn’t want to help with the outside chores. Instead,
she just wanted to stay in the kitchen and stated, “Youse in yo’ place and Ah’m
in mine. “ I guess it makes sense that Janie acted this way if you look at it
as her simply choosing to be stubborn and not submit to any authority. However,
the rest of what I read seems to convey that Janie doesn’t want to accept her “place.”
This is indicated by her longing for real love and her decision to leave with
Joe in hopes for a better life. When someone in the city suggests Janie to give
a speech, Joe immediately intercedes and rejects that idea. This angers Janie. I
don’t think she is going to be happy with Joe for very long. He’s too
controlling.
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