In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie's learning to shoot even better than Tea Cake foreshadows her having to shoot him at the end of the novel. In the setting of the novel, 1930's Florida, there are strict gender roles that the characters are expected to follow, particularly that women's place revolves around the domestic realm. But when Janie marries Tea Cake, the two partake in activities that are not bound by these gender norms,...
In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie's learning to shoot even better than Tea Cake foreshadows her having to shoot him at the end of the novel. In the setting of the novel, 1930's Florida, there are strict gender roles that the characters are expected to follow, particularly that women's place revolves around the domestic realm. But when Janie marries Tea Cake, the two partake in activities that are not bound by these gender norms, and Tea Cake feels that Janie should learn to shoot because it's a helpful skill. For a woman to learn to shoot serves as a source of gossip in the town, but Janie is happy to let her independent spirit shine while learning. Learning to shoot comes in handy later when Tea Cake is bitten by a rabid dog, and the disease takes over his mind. Tea Cake is no longer himself, and he makes a move to harm Janie, causing her to shoot him. Luckily she's a good shot, and the bullet stops Tea Cake in his tracks, saving Janie and preventing Tea Cake from suffering. So, Janie's learning to shoot foreshadows her having to use this skill to end Tea Cake's life.
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