How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #22
Did He [God] mean to do this thing to Tea Cake and her? It wasn’t anything she could fight. She could only ache and wait. Maybe it was some big tease and when He saw it had gone far enough He’d give her a sign. She looked hard for something up there to move for a sign. A star in the daytime, maybe, or the sun to shout, or even a mutter of thunder. Her arms went up in a desperate supplication for a minute. It wasn’t exactly pleading, it was asking questions. The sky stayed hard looking and quiet so she went inside the house. God would do less than He had in His heart. (19.104)
Janie watches the heavens, asking for a reason to believe, to have faith in God again. Janie herself says that free will can’t halt Tea Cake’s death, his illness isn’t "anything she could fight." However, she tries to exercise her will by praying to God. But God seems merciless and Janie must steel herself for Tea Cake’s impending death. It is too late for prayer.