The Mule as a metaphor of the Black Female

• The event with the mule is important because of how the animal metaphorically represents the abuse, oppression, and mistreatment of black women.
• Earlier in the novel, Nanny says “De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah can see” (14).
• In her speech to Janie, Nanny tries explaining that the white man is responsible for oppressing the black man, but while the black man falls under the rule of the white man, it is the white woman who suffers the most because she must submit to both elements of power and carry that weighty “load”. She cries that she wanted a different life for Janie; she wants her to have protection from all of the slavery and oppression that women have been subjected to and she believes that marriage to a good black man can free her of that.
  
• Similar to a mule, Janie is barren and unable to procreate. Furthermore mules are often animals that are raised for the sole purpose of contributing to work and so far, in both of Janie’s marriages, she is working for her husband.