I really don't blame Janie for anything because she had a rough childhood, and was raised during a bad time. Her grandmother had to run away and hide in a swamp with Leafy, one of Janie's sisters. Unfortunately she went out drinking and eventually ruined herself. So her grandmother really had all her hopes left on Janie. She lived in the Washburn's backyard. She thought she was white for a while, until she saw a photograph. Janie has always been quiet, and unable to really be that "strong independent woman." Her relationship with Jody really didn't help either. Jody used her for his own benefit to become a leader with power. When Janie messed up he would yell at her, and make her feel bad about herself. Janie wasn't too good at doing work so when she cut the tobacco wrong for a customer, Jody went off on her in public. She never had her own voice, and she was always controlled by someone else. After Jody died, Janie went to his deathbed to express her opinions of him. Janie didn't find her true love with him, and now she seems to slowly gain control again. She's free from Jody bossing her around, and she is her own person. She gets to put her hair down, because before Jody controlled her too much. She soon gets in a relationship with Tea Cake, which I think is when she finally made a good decision. Tea Cake seems to fit her nicely, and she enjoys being with him. He helps her find her true self and help her express herself. I think Tea Cake is the opposite of Jody, and he is really beneficial towards Janie.
