Throughout the novel Janie searches for love that she always desired, the kind of love that is “by the marriage between a bee and a blossom on the pear tree that stood in Nanny's backyard.”. Janie felt the feelings of other types of love, she finally got the …show more content…
Janie's independence began slowly in the novel at first. She had a bit of independence when she had the courage to leave her marriage with Logan in order to run away with Joe. Her independence grows, but throughout her marriage with Joe. As Joe treats Janie as his property instead of his wife Janie gained an inner strength but her strength builds and one day she stands up for herself to Joe in front of the porch sitters. This action is Janie's first outward sign of her inner strength her strength and independence grow when Joe becomes weaker. Even though he banishes Janie from his room, she visited him anyway. As Joe lies dying Janie told him that he is not the man that she ran off with years ago, she tells Joe that he has never been able to accept her for who she really is. After everything Janie finds strength in Joe's death. Finally, she is set free from man who had her in a loveless marriage. Janie express’ her freedom after Joe's death by removing the kerchief from her head to let her long braids freely down her back. Through the quest for love and the independence that she gains in her journey, Janie receives the harsh judgment of others. The porch sitters in the novel were there to judge Janie, they sit and comment about Janie's return. The judgment continues in Janie's life with Joe, he judges Janie rather than accepting her for who she really is. He doesn't let her have independence