Janie and Joe arrive in Eatonville, disappointed to discover the town not at all developed. Joe immediately purchases additional land, builds a store, buys the town’s first streetlamp, and pushes the townspeople to establish a government—and to elect him mayor.

Joe treats Janie like another of his many possessions; he uses this display of wealth to enforce his superiority over the other townspeople. Although several men in the town attempt to flirt with her, Janie remains closemouthed and unfriendly. The women of the town envy Janie, in part because she follows Joe’s instructions to present herself as above them by dressing formally.

As time goes on, the townspeople learn that Joe, although arrogant and accustomed to having his way, is also willing to work hard to make his ambitions a reality. They wonder how Janie bears her marriage to a man who regularly berates her in front of customers when she makes mistakes in the store. Janie begins to feel fearful and lonely, realizing that Joe expects her to find complete self-fulfillment in his successes, just as he does. She grows weary of his constant activity.