This cute boy has an important influence on the story. What do we mean? Johnny Taylor is the first boy that Janie kisses being a teenager. Probably she feels something lovely to him, and that makes her think that feelings are a very nice thing, and the aim of marriage should be in this – in feelings. By the way, when Nanny sees the kiss, she tells Janie that she ‘is now a woman.’ Telling this she meant that now she is ready to marry Logan Killicks, that he is better than someone from low-class like Johnny.
Johnny Taylor in the Essays