Chapter 11

Chapter 11 Quote 1

"Why, Tea Cake? What good do combin’ mah hair do ... you? It’s mah comfortable, not yourn."
“It’s mine too. Ah ain’t been sleepin’ so good for more’n uh week cause Ah been wishin’ so bad tuh get mah hands in yo’ hair. It’s so pretty. It feels jus’lak underneath uh dove’s wing next to mah face."

The fact that Tea Cake takes pleasure in giving pleasure to Janie endears him to her. Janie has only known selfish men who only took pleasure in pleasing themselves. Logan and Joe’s short-lived attempts to please Janie always fell short or turned out to be only pretense. That Tea Cake can find happiness in pleasing Janie helps him win her love; his actions bring them mutual happiness.

Chapter 11 Quote 2

Things like dat got uh whole lot ... tuh do wid convenience,but it ain’t got nothin’ tuh do wid love."

Tea Cake does not care about social prescriptions over such trifles as age differences when there is real love involved. And the fact that he has the courage to address such a touchy subject directly to Janie further endears him to her. And it shows true love.