Chapter 7 serves as a pivotal point for Janie and her marriage. As the years have passed, Janie has become totally submissive to Joe, to avoid both his physical and verbal abuse. Joe has made an effort over the years to ridicule Janie even more when there was an audience to witness his cruelty. However, when Janie makes a mistake while cutting chewing tobacco, Joe lashes out at Janie in the middle of the store by criticizing her intelligence and her beauty.
Suddenly, something changes for Janie. She says that she felt as if "somebody snatched off part of a woman's clothes while she wasn't looking and the street were crowded." After years of his oppression, Janie stands up for herself before Joe and a group of townspeople. She begins to take control of her life, by telling Joe what she really thinks. By lashing out, she "had robbed him of his illusion of irresistible maleness that all men cherish, which was terrible."
Joe's destruction heightens, causing both Janie and himself great emotional pain. Janie has exposed Joe before the townspeople, causing him great embarrassment. Not only has Janie spoken out against Joe, but also the townspeople laughed, "cast[ing] down his empty armor before men." To show that he still holds power over Janie, Joe responds by striking Janie as hard as he possibly can. Smacking Janie is his only means of saving face. It is apparent that Joe is losing control over his own life, with his declining health and the disobedience of his wife.
