Control

Nanny also speaks directly about the lack of control that black people; especially black women have over their world. These warnings by Nanny don't seem to be fully appreciated by Janie at first. In a way for Janie to realize these ideas at this stage in her life would be, in some small part, giving up control over herself, and her future. This ends up happening anyways as Nanny pushes Janie into an early marriage against Janie's will. Despite the fact that this was done by Nanny to try and protect Janie from the horrible fate of so many other black women, that kind of protection is very controlling, even if it isn't meant to be. Janie's first marriage shows more aspects of control. Logan, her husband, shows some control over Janie directly, but his story of control is mostly over his general environment. Logan tells Janie what to do when it comes to something that has to do with the farm. Logan insists on buying a mule so Janie can help do some of the plowing, which Janie doesn't want to do. Complete rule over a person's environment is another manifestation of the theme of control. People are controlling her, but not in a direct "you cannot do this" kind of way. This would all change when Joe Starks comes into her life. The moment he sees her he is already trying to figure out how to get her. He can sense how vulnerable she is, and he can sense she is not happy with how Logan is treating her. Within a few days he has talked Janie into leaving Logan to run off with him. He tells her, "Janie, if you think Ah aims to tole you off and make a dog outa you, youse wrong. Ah wants to make a wife outa you."(29) Janie doesn't immediately realize what Joe's true intentions with her really are, but she begins to notice how forceful Joe is, how he takes charge of every situation he is around. He purchases more land because he feels that the town doesn't have enough. That is a big control sign too. Joe decides all on his own that the town doesn't have enough land.