Love and Loathing in the Everglades

I am now on Chapter 14 of the book, and i have begun to notice an interesting reoccurring theme of duality. It's probably no mistake that I realize this now, I think Hurston makes it purposely evident at this time: Janie has found new love, in a man named Tea Cake and therefore has a more worldly perspective on things, and a means of comparison.

We find that Janie is starting to break away from old values. she says at one point that she hates Nanny (her Grandmother) and is ready to break away from the goals that she set for her since she was little. At one point she says: "Dis is uh love game... Ah done lived Grandma's way, now Ah means tuh live mine."

She is of course referring to the differences in between Tea Cake and Jody Starks, her last husband. The two are foils for one another, as both are at some point the object of Janies affection. Jody fits into Nanny's idea of a marriage sanction: a relationship forged on ambition and money. Tea Cake fits into Janie's idea of a marriage sanction: one thats based simply on love. This is demonstrated in many ways including Tea Cake's interactions with his fellow workers in the everglades. While Jody would maintain loyalty amongst his townspeople and customers by leading with fear, Tea Cake maintains loyalty through respect, honor, and love.

There are several other examples of duality, even behind the story Phoeby tells of Annie Tyler. When Annie runs away with a younger man, the "improvements" to her appearance are an effort on her part to look and behave like a white woman. She dyes her hair and wears "blotchy powder", aligning herself with "white values". She ends up in misery when her man leaves her and takes her money. Though this may be part of Hurston's theme of the importance of staying true to yourself, it may it also be seen as a white vs. black values theme of duality.

So in summation, Possession vs. Companionship, Ambition vs. Devotion, and Fear vs. Love are all part of this prevalent duality motif that Hurston keeps plugging. I will explain and delve further into this idea as I finish the book. (I'm almost there =])