Identity and empowerment in Janie's silence

In the novel ‘Their eyes were watching God’, Janie’s silence begins to be her way to show her identity, but when it begins to be repressed it also develops to represent her move towards empowerment.  When Janie initially returns back to Eatonville, she walks into town in dirty overalls, unlike when she first came dressed in a fancy dress, and there the townsfolk gossiped about her, as “They sat in judgement.” (pg. 1).  But when Pheoby came to confront her about the towns gossip by saying “You better make haste and tell ‘em ‘bout you and Tea Cake gettin’ married, and if he taken yo’ money and went off wid some young gal… and  why you got to come back here in overhalls.” (pg. 6), Janie refused to say anything to them by stating that “They don’t need to worry about me and my overhalls…” (pg. 7).  When Janie stays silent about her life it portrays her as a character that is very confident and dependent on herself since she doesn't need the approval of the town and instead keeps her own privacy.  But while it shows her independence, it portrays Janie as a woman who is cold and distant, as the townsfolk complain that “...She could stop and saw a few words with us. She act like we done something to her, she de one been doin’ wrong.” (Pg. 3).  While Janie’s silence shows how she is as a person, it often allows people to perceive the wrong perception of her.  

When Janie was married to Logan, she realized that despite her efforts to love him, she couldn't.  She felt no real connection with him and she “Knew now that marriage did not make love.” (Pg. 25).  Her silence with him began to show her development into becoming her own person, and it begins to show when Logan threatens to kill Janie, and she realizes that she doesn't need him; “Janie turned from the door without answering, and stood still in the middle of the floor without knowing it… What was she losing so much time for? Janie hurried out of the front gate and turned south.” (Pg. 32).  Instead of fighting back against Logan, Janie uses her silence to show her power against Logan by showing how she doesn't need him.  Janie’s silence is her way to show her identity and also display her empowerment.