The symbolic meaning of a mule as a creature who is worked
and used and exploited is certainly a common one. In Chapter 6 of Their Eyes
Were Watching God, Janie enjoys being on the porch, listening to the
rich tales that the men spin about Matt Bonner's overworked and underfed mule. And, all
the while the men tease Matt constantly about feeding his mule, he insists that he takes
care of the poor beast. Finally, Joe buys the mule from Bonner because he wants the
suffering animal to spend the rest of his life in comfort. His humane act inspires
Janie to praise him,
"Freein' dat mule makes uh mighty big man outa
you. Something like George Washington or Abraham Lincoln...You have tuh have power tuh
free things and dat makes you like uh king uh
something."
Thus, Joe gains
respect from her and others. In addition, he has asserted his power as he is able to
purchase the animal for no other reason but to establish the animal's comfort. Further,
he has also put an end to the tales created by the men, and even gets the last word in
at the "draggin' out" to which he forbids Janie to attend as it is
"common."
Once again, Joe's power restricts Janie. But,
having experienced the convivial spirit of the men on the porch as they banter about the
mule, Janie realizes that there is much to life that she desires. While Joe is not a
mean or cruel person, his chauvanistic motives quell the spirit of Janie. Like the poor
mule who has been exploited in both life and death, Janie's spirit, too, has been
hindered and her person exploited as Joe keeps her in the role of dutiful
wife.
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