Symbols and Imagery

"The brute jerked up his head, laid back his ears and rushed to the attack. Lum had to run for safety. Five or six more men left the porch and surrounded the fractious beast, goosing him in the sides and making him show his temper. But he had more spirit left than body. He was soon panting and heaving from the effort of spinning his old carcass about. Everybody was having fun at the mule-baiting. All but Janie." p. 56

The mule in these chapters is a symbolic metaphor for Janie. The mule intensifies and clarifies her need for freedom while paralleling her life. The mule is like Janie because he is dominated by Matt Bonner as she is dominated by Joe Starks. Matt does not feed the mule and overworks him, as Janie is over instructed by Joe and he does not "feed" her any independence. Janie watches the mule and feels his pain, because she too feels trapped and dreams of freedom. The bull further parallels Janie because when he is freed he stirs up all sorts of trouble, as does Janie after she is free from Joe because of his death. While the bull's fooleries include sleeping in houses and stealing dinners, Janie kicks up dust in the town with her activities with Tea Cake. Both characters are made stronger and happier by doing the things they enjoy rather than conforming to a masters wishes. Ultimately the Mule dies in his old age, but he is happy with his life. This could possibly foreshadow a similar situation for Janie, or, be parallel to the "death" of Janie's happiness and freedom by Tea Cake's death and her return to the town. The mule is also used to foreshadow Janie's gain of freedom, which one can infer would involve a drastic change in Joe, such as a death. This is because the mule gains freedom by Joe's hands and because he parallels Janie she must as well. Overall, the mule clarifies and simplifies Janie's want and need for freedom, and foreshadows Joe's death.