Cast of Characters
West Florida Characters:
Janie Mae Crawford: The protagonist of the story. Throughout the story, she searches for her dream of love. She marries Logan Killicks, despite the fact that she didn’t love him, because her grandmother wanted her to be married to a well of gentleman. Their marriage only lasted for about a year before Janie decided to run away with Joe Starks. Although their marriage lasted much longer than the last, it was not a happier one. She was miserable in the store and struggled with being above everyone, as she felt left out. When Joe died, she felt this renewed freedom. When she met Tea Cake, who truly loved her and wanted her, she felt happier than she ever did before. Tea Cake stayed loyal to her, and their relationship grew so much, that Janie did not care if she died in the storm, because she finally felt joyful with Tea Cake. Therefore, it was a great sadness to her when he died. Their marriage only lasted for two years, but it was the happiest years of her entire life.
Logan Killicks: Janie’s first husband, he woos her so that her grandmother lets Janie marry him. His love for her was not genuine however. Not long after her grandmother died, he was very harsh toward her, which ultimately made Janie leave him.
Nanny: She is the antagonist, as she ignores Janie’s longing for a truly loving husband. Her grandmother dreamed of Janie being married to a man that would provide for her, instead of Janie doing all the work. She also convinced Janie that even though she did not love Logan, she would learn to love him when they were married.
Eatonville Characters:
Joe Starks: Janie’s second husband, he had big plans to make himself known in Eatonville. So when he found that there was no mayor, he took the leadership role at once. He rapidly changed Eatonville from a small, almost unpopulated town, to a bustling town. Yet his marriage with Janie was not as successful as his job. His view was that he was doing all the work, while he let Janie sit on a pedestal, known to all as the Mayor’s wife. Yet despite Janie’s attempts at letting Joe know her feelings, he remained a static character to his death.
Tea Cake: Tea Cake is Janie’s true love. Even upon meeting him she loved him. He is an adventurous man who, although 12 years younger than Janie, loved her more than her other husbands ever did. Although he took the two hundred dollars from Janie, he showed his love to her by gambling it back. When they moved to the Everglades, their love for each other did not diminish at all. During the storm, Janie told him that she did not care if she died because she would have spent her last minutes with her husband. Sadly, he goes mad after being bitten by a rabid dog, and Janie had no choice but to shoot him. Yet his presence never left Janie.
Pheoby Watson: Janie’s best friend. She stands out because unlike the others, she is the only one who displays the characteristics of a good friend. In the beginning when the women are gossiping about Janie because she didn’t stop and talk, Pheoby defends her and brings her some food. Pheoby is also very gentle when she gave her thoughts about Tea Cake to Janie.
Sam Watson: Pheoby’s husband.
Hezekiah Potts: Janie’s helper in the store, he supports and helps her out after Joe dies. He would fool around and pretend to be Joe Starks, which would make Janie laugh.
Matt Bonner: The owner of the mule, which was one of the most talked about subjects around the men. The others relentlessly tease him about his neglect of the mule. After seeing how the mule upset Janie, Joe bought it from him.
Annie Tyler: A woman who fell in love with Who Flung and ran off with him. He then took all her money and left the behind. Janie was worried that Tea Cake had done the same thing when the two hundred dollars was missing.
Who Flung: The wooer of Annie Tyler, he took all her money and left her.
Mrs. Robbins
Everglade Characters:
Mrs. Turner: A “friend” of Janie’s. She hated black folks and viewed herself as superior to them. She disliked Tea Cake and tried to get Janie acquainted with her brother.
Mr. Turner
Motor Boat
Sop-de-Bottom
Ed Dockery
Nunkie
Stew Beef
Bootyny
