The Death of a Boss - Their Eyes Were Watching God: PART 5

Now this is a review of chapter 7, 8, and 9 in the book called, Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston. We went through all the chapters up till now and we learned that Janie have settled upon a second husband. But, this husband has turned out to be a man she did not expect. He started off sweet talking her into going on a adventure with him and hwo he would treat her nice. Then, suddenly, she is being beat over dinner and treated even worse.

"One day she noticed that Joe didn't sit down. He just stood in front of a chair and fell in it. That made her look at him all over. Joe wasn't so young as he used to be. There was already something dead about him. He didn't rear back in his knees any longer. He squatted over his anckles when he walked. That stillness at the back of his neck. His prosperous-looking belly that used to thrust out so pugnaciously and intimidate folks, sagged like a load of suspended form his loins. It didn't seem to be part of him anymore. Eyes a little absent too."

This is how Joe is described by Janie and in her eyes, he is getting old. He is not what he used to be, the man that wasn't afraid of anyone and a person who everyone looked up to. Now all he is, is a old man that is just waiting for final days at this town he started up. This also tells us how Janie feels about her current state of marriage with Joe. She is beginning to think of her future. A future away from Joe.

"Joe's funeral was the finest thing Orange County had ever seen with Negro eyes. The motor hearse, the Cadillac and Buick carriages, Dr. Henderson there in his Lincoln; the hosts from far and wide." This is how chapter 10 started off right after a long conversaiton between Joe and Janie in chapter 9. Joe is now, as you can tell, is dead and everyone came in their finest way possible. It wasn't a sight that you would see everyday in Orange County and so it was a good and bad day on the funeral day. 

Seeing what happens in chapter 9, it is a real cliff hanger on what will Janie do from here on out. Joe was the Mayor of the town and she could always have food on the table. Now, if she were to mess up in the shop and earn nothing, there is nothing to fall back on and would eventually die of starvation. But, this would all be clear once chapter 10, 11, and 12 is revealed in the near future!