Chapter 17 Summary

Much of the old crowd returns for the new season, along with new people who arouse jealousies for both Tea Cake and Janie. Mrs. Turner brings her visiting brother to be introduced, which gives Tea Cake a brainstorm. He whips Janie to prove he is still in charge, not because of anything she has done, but because it reassures him of his own possession. The fact that she does not fight back, but still clings to him instead, makes the other men all the more jealous of Tea Cake, who admits he did it to show the Turners who was boss.

The others agree that Mrs. Turner needs to be taught a lesson, and after payday, everyone gets drunk and tears apart her eatery. Her weak husband does not interfere, and Mrs. Turner tells him she is taking her son and brother and...