Close Reading - Nanny

As life continues for Janie her idea of love proceeds to change. After the episode with Johnny Taylor, Janie is physically and mentally abused by her grandmother. Janie's grandmother, Nanny, wants Janie to be with a man like Logan Killicks who can offer her land and protection. A man who will treat Janie correctly in which she will not have to conform to the tiresome and degrading ways of the black woman. Janie thinks about her life with Logan, "The vision of Logan Killicks was desecrating the pear tree" (14.) Afterwards Nanny explains her distress towards Janie due to her love and care for her granddaughter. Nanny does not want to see Janie become like all of the other black women, "de mule uh de world" (14). During this moment Nanny sprinkles Janie's "pear tree" with "water". The water symbolizes the knowledge and opinions that Nanny wishes to seep into the roots of Janie.The reason for Nanny's inspirational "watering" is to help Janie to prosper and grow. She does not want her granddaughter to become like the black women of the world, including Janie's mother. Nanny's intentions are loving but ultimately paves the way for Janie's idea of love in a negative light by deciding who she has to marry. In this close reading of Nanny we the strict and powerful side of her but also the great amount of love she has for her granddaughter. She is looking out for her granddaughter just in a more strict and demanding way. Nanny attempts to give Janie as much life advice as she can before she passes away. For Nanny, this is an act of love from her to Janie. -Taylor