After Joe’s funeral she observes in her unhappiness how Nanny had taken the biggest thing God ever made, the
horizon” and “pinched it in to such a little bit of a thing that she could tie it about her granddaughter’s neck tight enough
to choke her.” At the end of the novel, though, Janie is able to pull in her horizon like a great fish-net” with a
delighted, peaceful heart. Explain why Nanny’s horizon was so restrictive for Janie and what led to its great expanse at
the end. Use at least two examples of textual evidence to support your answer. Your answer should be at least two
hundred words.
Answer:
Nanny’s horizon was restrictive for Janie because it was based on Nanny’s own experiences of hardship and struggle as a former slave, and she wanted to protect Janie from a similar fate. Nanny’s horizon was limited to safety, security, and respectability within the confines of societal norms, which is why she arranged Janie’s marriage to Logan Killicks, a man who could provide for her but whom Janie didn’t love.
However, Janie’s horizon was far more expansive, fueled by her thirst for love, freedom, and self-discovery. After her marriage to Joe Starks, who treated her as a trophy wife and suppressed her individuality, she finally found her horizon with Tea Cake, a man who