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Leaving the Washburn's House
During her early childhood, Janie lived with her grandmother in a shed in the backyard of a white family's home (the Washburns). Her grandmother - the woman who raised her - was the nanny to the Washburn children and Janie was not treated any differently than the Washburn children, so much so that she did not know that she was not white. In school, however, she was made fun of and ostracized from the social cliques for living in the Washburn's backyard. So, Nanny bought a house and they moved. -
The Realization of Her Pear Tree
At sixteen, Janie shares her first kiss with a boy named Johnny over a fence and Nanny fears that Janie will fall to the same fate of her mother, unmarried and pregnant. So, quickly afterwards, Nanny arranges for Janie's first marriage. -
The Ugly Toed Man - Logan Killicks
Logan was a property owning man who Nanny trusted to support Janie financially, but soon into their marriage, Janie grew discontented. Logan was unattractive and did not fit Janie's idealized view of marriage. While he was out to buy a second mule so that Janie could help with maintaining the property, she met her second husband, Jody, and ran off with him soon after Logan returned. -
Janie & Her New, Successful Husband
The new couple runs off to Eatonville, a rural, all black town that Jody sees as a great place to settle down and invest his money into. He becomes the mayor and opens a store there, making him well known throughout the town. Although she is somewhat involved, she soon realizes that this life with Jody is rather dull, as it seems she is only another possession of Jody's that he can show off. She becomes increasingly unhappy having to submit to Jody, silencing herself as the perfect mayor's wife. -
Jody's Death & Janie's Freedom
After Janie finally speaks up to Jody, he beats her badly and their marriage crumbles. A couple months later, Jody becomes very ill and eventually dies. In his final minutes, Janie lectures him about his conduct and his restricting treatment of her. After having to silence herself all of their marriage, she is finally able to reprimand him and then he dies. Jody's death makes Janie feel free and independent. Only months after Jody's death Janie meets a new man, Tea Cake. -
A Fresh Start
After meeting Tea Cake, Janie realizes this is the one man who truly will allow her to be herself and not silence her. Tea Cake is Janie's first husband that she truly loves and she marries him, moving away from Eatonville and selling Jody's store. They move to Jacksonville at first, where Tea Cake attempts to find work and they face some slight struggles with him stealing Janie's money. They soon move to the Everglades where they find work harvesting. Life in the Everglades seems to work well. -
Life in Everglades
While in the offseason, Janie and Tea Cake spend time getting to know the people around "the Muck" and they meet Mrs. Taylor. Although she is not white, Mrs. Taylor glorifies white people while putting down black people. She doesn't like that Janie, who has a lighter skin tone, is married to Tea Cake, who has a darker skin tone, and attempts to set Janie up with her brother. Mrs. Taylor's brother comes to town and Tea Cake beats Janie to show his power over her. Janie seems to understand this. -
Hurricane Season
A couple years after Janie and Tea Cake have settled down, a massive hurricane strikes the Everglades, forcing the couple to flee from their home, along with their friend, Motor Boat. Motor Boat decides to shelter in an abandoned house, and Janie and Tea Cake fight for survival together. While she is attempting to stay above water, a dog tries to attack Janie and Tea Cake has to wrestle the dog away. The dog bites Tea Cake but he is able to save Janie. They escape the hurricane alive. -
The Death of Tea Cake
A couple weeks later, Tea Cake appears to be becoming ill, and Janie requests that Dr. Simmons see him. Dr. Simmons says that Tea Cake most likely got rabies from the dog that bit him and that there is not much they can do for him. As time passes, the disease begins to take over Tea Cake, making him have wild and illusive thoughts. One morning, Janie goes to get Dr. Simmons, but when she returns, Tea Cake accuses her of cheating and is about to shoot her. Janie has no choice but to shoot him. -
Janie's Court Case and Return
Janie is put on trial for shooting Tea Cake and all of her friends of the muck have turned against her. She explains her great love for Tea Cake to the all white and all male jury and they find her innocent. She is then able to give Tea Cake a proper burial. Heartbroken over Tea Cake's death, Janie moves back to Eatonville where she reconnects with her best friend Pheoby. The whole town is gossiping about her, but she doesn't let it bother her. Janie was able to live her dream out with Tea Cake.