Novel Soundtrack by Renee Graves
Event: (Chapter 1) The song “Coming Home” pairs well with the
opening page of The Novel Their Eyes Were
Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston because that is exactly what Janie is doing.
Janie has been through three marriages, the last being Tea Cake. She is coming
home to talk with her friend Pheoby and to share in her experiences (Hurston 1).
This song reveals pain from the past, forgiveness, and the good that lies
ahead. Although the people are mocking
her as she walks through the town to see Pheoby, she doesn’t let it get to her.
The song says, “So you can doubt and you can hate.” Janie isn’t ashamed, just
like in the song where it says, “Tell the world that I’m coming home.” Janie
had been through so much and she is not afraid to be the woman that she has
become.
Event: (Chapter 13) Tea Cake has taken two hundred dollars from Janie without her knowing it. Then he leaves for days. He buys a new guitar and goes out dancing. When he gets back home to Janie, she is furious. She has no idea where Tea Cake has been or who he has been with. She says, “Looka heah, Tea Cake, if you ever go off from me and have a good time lak dat and then come back heah tellin’ me how nice Ah is, Ah specks tuh kill yuh dead. You Heah me?” (Hurston 124) The Song “Respect” ties in well with this scenario. Aretha sings about the money she has and all she is asking for is a little respect from her man. That is what Janie was asking for from Tea Cake.
Event: (Chapter 18) The
song “Storm” is an excellent depiction of what Janie is feeling as she hangs on
for dear life through the Hurricane. Waves are crashing over her head and she
is getting tired in the deep waters. She
loves Tea Cake so much and is calling out his name, “Tea Cake!” (Hurston 165). Just as in the song, Janie
knows everything will be alright as long as she is with Tea Cake; if she can
just see him. There is peace in the storm, as though Janie can “walk on water”.
Event:
(Chapter 19) Janie
is set free. Her “chains are gone”. “We
find the death of Vergible Woods to be entirely accidental and justifiable, and
that no blame should rest upon the defendant Janie Woods” (Hurston 188).
There is an eerie peace about all that has taken place in Janie’s life.
She tunes out all the talk around her as she walks the streets a very familiar
town.
Event: (Chapter 19)
Tea Cake is very sick from the dog bite. Janie is telling Tea Cake to go back
to bed. Tea Cake says, “Janie, Ah done went through everything tuh be good tuh
you and it hurt me tuh mah heart tuh be ill treated lak Ah is” (Hurston 183).
The song “Everybody Hurts” tells what both Janie and Tea Cake are feeling at
this moment. Tea Cake is physically and
mentally ill. There is so much pain between the two of them. Tea Cake is ready to give up.
