Nanny is Muh Subject

Janie was raised by her Nanny and the “quality white folks” her Nanny worked with. The grandmother cared for Janie deeply and at one point in the story states that she loved Janie more than she ever did Janie’s mother, her actual daughter. As Janie is becoming more curious about boys Nanny finds Janie kissing Johnny Taylor and immediately tells Janie she will have to get married. Nanny initially had plans for Janie to attend school and choose a man that would better suit Janie but for her own protection from the worthless boys Janie will inevitably encounter Janie will have to get married. “You wants to make me suck de same sorrow yo’ mama did, eh? “Mah ole head ain’t gray enough. Mah back ain’t  bowed enough to suit yuh!” (Hurston, 14) Nanny does not want Janie to end up like her mother and despite Janie’s objections she feels it is in her best interest to marry Mr. Killicks who can provide protection and security.

Nanny explains to Janie that “De nigger woman is de mule uh de world” (Hurston, 14) since woman in general have no say in what goes on but even more so if you are a black woman. The mules are over worked day after day until they eventually die. Nanny was the last of the slaves to endure slavery which causes her to know more about the inequalities that have been in effect since before she was even born. Nanny is only doing the best she knows how for Janie to be able to live the life she never could, for Janie to fulfill her dreams and doing what a woman ought to be able to do.