From reading the first chapter, it appears that Janie is a downtrodden, weary woman that has endured much hardship and suffering. She walks into town without a word to anyone and proceeds to isolate herself within her house from a community she's known for years. Her somber mood can be detected through her conversation with her friend Phoebe. "Yeah, Phoebe, Tea Cake is gone. And dat's de only reason you see me back here-cause Ah ain't got nothing to make me happy no more where Ah was at"(7). This quote clearly shows Janie's mourning thoughts and feelings that explain why she was acting so distant and aloof towards the others at the beginning of the book.
The narrator appears to be well informed of all the characters' thoughts throughout the chapter. It gives the reader insight not only to what has happened to the protagonist, Janie, but also how she is perceived by others as well. "Seeing the woman as she was mad them remember the envy they had stored up from other times. So they chewed up the back parts of their minds and swallowed with relish"(2). This line reflects the general view of Janie by other women in the town, who have a strong dislike of Janie for whatever reason. This leaves the reader guessing as to what could have possibly happened to have created that sort of stigma around Janie and keeps them actively engaged.
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