Blog Post #3

Many people are very passive in their lives. If you do not assert yourself, your situation will never get any better. Janie's situation with Jody in Their Eyes Were Watching God is a perfect example of this.  Jody tells Janie "Wid you heah, Ah oughtn't tuh hafta do all dat lookin' and searchin'. Ah done rold you time and time agin tuh stick all dem papers on dat nail! All you got tuh do is mind me. How come you can't do lak Ah tell yuh?" (Hurston 70-71). Jody is constantly telling Janie what to do and putting her down. Throughout the book Janie thinks about standing up for herself, but she always backs out and does what Jody says. Of course, Jody continues to push her around. Towards the end of Jody's life, Janie finally sticks up for herself and confronts Jody about the way her treats her. This was the first time with Jody that she finally felt good about herself. Being passive didn't get her anywhere and the only thing that made it better was standing up for herself.