By Jeson Erickson
Cast of Characters
Janie Mae Crawford (a.k.a. Mrs. Killicks, Mrs. Starks, Mrs. Woods)- The main character protagonist and the main voice of the novel. Janie grew up living with her grandmother which she calls her Nanny. Janie lived with the Washburns, the couple Nanny worked for, during her childhood. Eventually Janie and Nanny had their own house. She was the only black child living with the Washburns, which she did not perceive until somebody told her. Janie marries three husbands. Janie did not find love at all during her first two husbands, but found real love when she met Tea Cake who loved her dearly. Janie is not a stereotypical women compared to the other women in the story. As Janie matures throughout the novel, he prefers her own independence, boldness, and curiosity while wearing overalls. Janie's primary characteristics are her ability to dream and her ability to act on her instincts to find happiness.
Pheoby Watson - Janie’s best friend in Eatonville and her audience while Janie is recalling her story. At the end, Pheoby exclaims she has grown taller and wants to go fishing with her husband after listening to Janie’s story. Pheoby gives advice towards Janie of what the other townspeople were saying about Janie’s decisions. In the beginning, she gave food to Janie and wonders how Janie was holding up.
Tea Cake (a.k.a. Vergible Woods) - Janie’s third husband and first real love. Even though he is twelve years younger than Janie, Tea Cake impresses her with his quick facetiousness and hearty enjoyment of life. He has a real affection of and understanding for, Janie. Tea Cake doesn’t try to force Janie to be anything other than herself, and he treats her with respect. He made a mistake by stealing Janie’s $200, leaving Janie afraid with the story of Annie Tyler and Who Flung. Tea Cake has some faults, like stealing, gambling, and beating, but those faults lead him to become more of a man in Janie’s perception. Tea Cake dies of rabies from the rabid dog at the end.
Joe Starks (a.k.a. Jody Starks) - Janie’s second husband. Jody met Janie while she was working with a plow, and says no woman should ever to that kind of labor. Janie is tricked with his sweet voice of sympathy that later on Joe shuts Janie down with his ambition and hunger for power. Joe treats Janie as an object rather than a person, and Janie hated him for that.
Joe made Eatonville from a town of nowhere to a well-know business. He becomes the postmaster, mayor, storekeeper, and landlord in Eatonville. Joe dies because health issue and of his ambition and pride of power is crushed by Janie.
Logan Killicks - Janie’s first husband. The marriage, arranged by to make Janie feel secure and respected over love, did not last long. Logan fondled Janie during their early marriage, but he lost affection of Janie and made her work on the farm. Janie did not feel right with how this love looks, so she runs off with Joe Starks.
Nanny Crawford - Janie’s grandmother who is a former slave. Nanny values wealth and security over anything and encourages Janie to pursue men like Logan because of their wealth. This view clashes with Janie’s view of independence, love, and desire to experience the world. Janie hated her grandmother for that reason. Nanny dies because of old age and the plan to take care of Janie is fulfilled.
Mrs. Turner - Mrs. Turner yearns on her white features and hates the more black African appearance. Tea Cake disliked her because of that reason, and talked to his friends about getting rid of her and her family. Mrs. Turner as well tries to woo Janie of her brother because she says Tea Cake is too black for Janie.
Sam Watson - Pheoby’s husband. Sam Watson is a source of great humor and wisdom during the conversations on Joe’s porch. When a few Eatonville residents begin to express their displeasure toward Joe, Sam admits that Joe can be overbearing and commanding but defends with a point that Joe is the man who made Eatonville a center of attention of business.
Leafy Crawford – Leafy is Janie’s mother who had the same story with Nanny. Nanny bore Leafy with the plantation master. When the master’s wife found out, Nanny fled and hid in the bushes. Leafy grew up with the Washburns as well, and was raped by a school teacher. She turned to the wrong crowd with drinking and partying, and Janie never did saw her mother Leafy.
Amos Hicks - A resident of Eatonville, Florida. Hicks is one of the first people to meet Janie and Joe, and secretly is affectionate of Janie.
Motor Boat - One of Tea Cake friends in the Everglades. Motor Boat decides to stay and sleep in an abandoned house during the hurricane. When Tea Cake and Janie went back to the muck, he heard that Motor Boat, along with others, survived the hurricane.
Hezekiah Potts - The delivery boy and assistant shopkeeper at Joe Starks’ store. Afterwards, he mimics Joe’s way of doing business.
Dr. Simmons - A well-known and friendly white doctor in the Everglades that tended with Tea Cake’s rabies.
Johnny Taylor - A young man whom Janie kisses for the first time. Nanny saw from her window the incident and made urged Janie to marry to someone who is wealthier, like Logan Killicks.
Mr. and Mrs. Washburn – Nanny worked for them after the slavery as a nanny. The Washburns let Nanny lived in a house in their backyard, and they helped raise Janie with their own children.
Nunkie - A young girl that flirts with Tea Cake that eventually led to Janie being jealous. Tea Cake reassures Janie that the Nunkie is nothing to him.
Annie Tyler- A rich widow who ran with Who Flung. She later is robbed of her wealth by Who Flung. This story is told by Pheoby to Janie when Janie pursued Tea Cake.
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