Explain why Janie visits Jody on his deathbed

Joe Watson tells Janie that Joe is about to die. His kidneys have failed. Janie begins to think about death: she pictures a square-toed man from the West who lives in a house with no roof. She asks Sam if it would be all right to visit Joe, but Joe refuses.

Janie realizes that she must speak to Joe, no matter what. Janie walks into Joe's room and sees him looking as though he's waiting for something. She begins with an apology for not being the "perfect" wife. Joe still blames her for being unsympathetic, but Janie explains that she was never allowed to be sympathetic because Joe controlled her too much. Nonetheless, Janie wants to talk to Joe before it is "too late." Joe does not want to accept that he could die soon. Janie tells Joe that "not listening" has been the main problem of Joe's life: he has been so busy listening to himself that he has never listened to her. Joe tells her to get out, but Janie gets in the last word. She tells Joe that she did not leave Logan and "come down the road" with him to lead a life of "bowing down" and obedience. Joe breathes his last painful breath and dies.

Janie puts his hands on his chest, then walks to the mirror to look for the young girl that she had asked to wait for her in the mirror. She takes the handkerchief off her head and examines her beautiful hair. She then gathers her strength, composes herself, and calls to the other townspeople that her husband has died.