nd speaks more honestly than she ever has before" (Dyer 57). Edna finally finds the faith in herself that her husband does not see. By excelling in learning to swim, she proves that anything is possible. Janie learns the same lesson by refusing to do extra labor on the farm. She resists Logan's attempt to add to her chores. When he calls her spoiled she responds, "Ah'm just as stiff as you is stout. If you can stand not to chop and tote wood Ah reckon you can stand no to git no dinner" (Hurston 25). Janie stands up for herself and is starting to find her voice. Realizing that the oppression caused by her femininity is unfair, she strives to find an environment where she can be free to explore and be an equal.
These first experiences of male domination act as their guiding light towards liberation. Both characters do not break away from these marriages until they realize that the love and support they expected the union to provide does not exist for them. Edna and Janie thought that "[
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