5th,+Janie+speaks


 * Text passage:** (p58) "Janie stood while they all made comments. When it was all done she stood in front of Joe and said, "Jody, dat wuz uh mighty fine thing fuh you tuh do. 'Tain't everybody would have thought of it, 'cause it ain't no everyday thought. Freein' dat mule makes uh mighty big man outa you. Something like George Washington and Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln, he had de whole United States tuh rule so he freed de Negroes. You got uh town so you freed uh mule. You have tuh power tuh free things and dat makes you lak uh king uh something.' Hambo said, 'Yo' wife is a born orator, Starks. Us never knowed dat befo'. She put jus' de right words tuh our thoughts.' "


 * Analysis/Significance:** She first gets her voice on page 50 and is only able to do this by puffing up his ego so that he is unable to shut her down again. When puffing up his ego she intentionally chooses to compare him to Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, two historical figures that are both significant in freeing oppressed people. After she is able to first get her voice and finally speak, one of the nearby townspeople, Hambo, acknowledges her and respects her ability to speak. Though he does not address her directly, by accepting her speech and complimenting her he affirms her new voice and gives her the power of speech.

"The connection between mules and silence" (50)
 * Article Passage:** "The mule functions as a site of potential resistance to the status quo." "The mule is a trickster who uses his wits and obstinacy to outsmart those who try to control him" (47)


 * Connection:** Each of the quotes from the article correspond to a different theme presented in this short passage selection from 'Eyes'. Janie uses trickery to first gain her voice by praising Jody so that he cannot suppress her, and then gains the respect of the community when Hambo acknowledges her voice. However, she remains silent as long as the mule is still a figure within the community and is restricted from attending the 'dragging-out' later in the chapter.