Joe and Janie’s meaningless marriage is now shattered. Joe moves out of their bedroom, and as his illness progresses, he refuses to let Janie take care of him. He also stubbornly refuses to see a medical doctor, preferring instead to seek cures from quacks and charlatans. Janie, who doesn’t want to give up the custodial responsibilities of a wife, finally gets a doctor, but it’s too late. Joe’s kidneys have failed, and he is a doomed man.
Although Joe has barred her from his sickroom, Janie goes to his bedside and tells the dying man some of the things that should have been said a long time ago. Joe is terrified at the thought of his impending death. In spite of the sincerity of Janie’s pleas that he should realize their marriage did not bring them the happiness they both desired when they took that train to Eatonville, Joe dies unrepentant, and Janie looks on with pity for her dead husband.
