Breaking free from Jody

On page 87 of the passage, the narrator is explaining what Janie is thinking and doing because Jody has just passed away. The speaker is reliable because she has been guiding us through the entire book so far, offering insight on to what the characters are thinking.  The narrator is omniscient and tells us a lot about the characters. One of the main ideas in the passage is to tell us what’s going on after Jody’s death. Janie walks over to the dresser and notices a change that has occurred over the past years. She has transformed from a young girl to a woman. The speaker is not asking any questions.  In this passage, the motif of hair is once again shown. “She tore off the kerchief from her head and let down her plentiful hair.” (87) Throughout the book, Jody forces Janie to keep her hair tied up. This symbolizes the suppression of power. When Jody dies, Janie lets down her hair, and breaks free from Jody’s grip.