I was surprised at Jonie’s behavior towards Jody in chapter eight. She acts cruel to him and doesn’t let up even when he is weak and looking for assistance. I realize that Jody has done some questionable things to Jonie, and his behavior is not tolerable, but these are Jody’s last few moments. Jonie is still married to Jody, and on his death bed she viscously criticizes him. It seems that Jonie is confused about her life and doesn’t know where to go next, which is understandable.
“The young girl was gone, but a handsome woman had taken place. She tore off the kerchief from her head and let down her plentiful hair. The weight, the length, the glory was there,”(83.)”
Janie’s first action after Jody’s death is to free her hair from the kerchief. She then looks in the mirror and is able to see what Jody had been trying to suppress. In a way, Jodie’s hair represents her power and independence, and by covering it Jody is restricting his wife from being stronger than he is. Most interesting part of this scene is when Jonie ties her hair back up into the way that Jody had demanded. She reproves Jody until his death, unties her hair, frees herself, and after all of this goes back to doing exactly what angered her originally.
