This chapter was the beginning of most of the emphasis on the abusive and cold-hearted relationship between Joe and Janie. Hurston starts to really highlight the disrespect that Joe shows toward her. So much so that he makes the statement that others need to make decisions for women. "Somebody got to think for women and chillun and chicken and cows" (71). This display of sexism shows some of the first signs of Joe's weakening from his previously honored and respected self.
Hurston juxtaposes this suffering relationship to that of Daisy and the men from the porch. She shows how Janie would have been if she hadn't married Joe, but had still left Logan. She would be single and all of the single men would goggle at her. After Janie sees all the men gathered around Daisy is when things begin to really heat up between Joe and Janie. After the argument, Zora tells Joes thoughts, and he shows his complete disregard for Janies efforts to please him. "They plan and they fix and they do, and then some kitchen dwelling fiend slips a scorchy, soggy, tasteless mess into their pots and pans" (71-72). In these quotes, Joe equates Janie to chickens, cows, and a kitchen dwelling fiend. Throughout the last chapters, Jody has himself become a fiend, much different than the caring, warmhearted man he was originally portrayed as.
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