Chapter 19

Chapter 19 Quote 1

When they were alone Tea Cake wanted to put his ... head in Janie’s lap and tell her how he feltand let her mama him in her sweet way.

Tea Cake, in times of distress, wants Janie to take on an ultra-feminine role and comfort him just as a mother would. While men often put down women’s "weakness," in times like these, they define the same softness as "sweet" and tender. But his disease begins to takes effect.

Chapter 19 Quote 2

Tea Cake began to cry and Janie hovered him in ... her arms like a child. She sat on the side of thebed and sort of rocked him back to peace.

Tea Cake is able to show his vulnerability to Janie, but not to other men. Interestingly, we only see him show his vulnerability when Janie takes on the role of mother, rather than that of a wife. This is probably because he feels the need to protect a wife, but feels comfortable being taken care of by a mother.