Reaction to Lilly's Post about Conflict

Though I can agree that Janie and Tea Cake don't always act as society expects them to, I must respectfully disagree as I believe this is too underdeveloped to be a conflict. Janie and Tea Cake are exposed to two reals of society: that of Eatonville and that of the Everglades. Whereas the townsfolk of Eatonville may make suppositions about the pair, Janie and Tea Cake like in their own separate world. They are extremely adept and shutting out society, because Janie leaves for Jacksonville without a moment's notice. Though in Chapter 12, Phoebe talks to Janie about their relationship, Janie does not give a budge. This shows that Janie really isn't conflicted with society. Society simply does not approve of her, and she does not give a rat's rear-end. Because Janie and Tea Cake does not even consider the Eatonville society when making their decisions, the society's scorn is only one-way, and this does not constitute a "conflict". According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, conflict is defined as " a: competitive or opposing action of incompatibles : antagonistic state or action (as of divergent ideas, interests, or persons) b: mental struggle resulting from incompatible or opposing needs, drives, wishes, or external or internal demands" or "the opposition of persons or forces that gives rise to the dramatic action in a drama or fiction" (I took definitions 2 and 3 because definition 1, "fight, battle, war", would make even less sense). Going down the words used in the definition: Janie and Tea Cake do not take "opposing action" against or "antagonize" with society; they do not even bat an eyelash. They do not have any "mental struggle" with society; again, they never gave any thought as to what society said about them. Tea Cake/Janie and society are not "opposing forces"; while society may put pressure on the couple, the couple does not present any force against society.

As for the society at the muck, they are not even against the Tea Cake-Janie relationship. Mrs. Turner is one woman; she does not represent all of society. In fact, the society that they are exposed to approve of their relationship. In the beginning of chapter 20, the society "begged Janie to stay on with them" (191). Though they did condemn her in the beginning, this was not prolonged to any extent to constitute a conflict. Janie simply "sent Sop word and to all the others through him. So the day of the funeral they came with shame and apology in their faces" (189). The jury aquitted her and the community forgave her for killing Tea Cake and wanted her back into their community. This shows they did not disapprove of their relationship.

Furthermore, Janie shooting Tea Cake does result in their (physical) separation, but it does not seem that "society won this battle". Society does not cause Janie to shoot Tea Cake; rather, I suppose the rabid dog could be culpable.

I do agree, however, that Janie and Tea Cake will always "be together" spiritually, as I think he was such an intense chapter in her life that she can never truly move on.