Their Eyes Were Watching God Chapter 6

Chapter 6 Summary

Chapter 6 mixes Eatonville’s porch comedy with growing tension in Janie and Joe Starks’s marriage.

The Mule and Porch Stories

The townspeople make Matt Bonner’s skinny, badly treated mule the star of their daily jokes. Joe eventually buys the animal and declares it free, turning it into a town mascot. When the mule dies, the townspeople give it an elaborate, comic funeral: Joe delivers a grand eulogy, and the buzzards’ wait for their “leader” becomes a mock ceremony of its own. Janie wants to go with Joe to see the mule off, but he insists that the public gathering isn’t a place for her.

Other porch scenes keep the town’s storytelling spirit lively. Sam Watson and Lige Moss argue at length about whether caution or nature keeps people from touching a hot stove, while Hezekiah spins a wild tale about a gigantic, ancient alligator. When Daisy Blunt arrives, Jim Weston and Dave compete theatrically to prove who loves her more, boasting about the extravagant things they’d do for her. The audience enjoys the performance—and knows the rivalry isn’t entirely pretend. Mrs. Tony Robbins also provides a comic scene when she begs Joe for meat, dramatically lamenting her hunger while the porch watches.

Janie and Joe’s Marriage

Behind the jokes, Janie’s frustration with Joe becomes clearer. He makes her cover her hair in the store because he resents other men admiring it, though he never admits why. He also expects her to obey him and dismisses her thoughts.

Remembering the day he slapped her over a poorly cooked meal, Janie recognizes that the marriage has lost its intimacy and that she has kept much of herself separate from him. Near the end, she finally challenges his assumption that women don’t think. Joe responds by warning her not to get “too mouthy,” leaving their conflict unresolved.

Personalities Featured

Janie Crawford, Joe Starks, Matt Bonner, Sam Watson, Lige Moss, Hezekiah, Daisy Blunt, Jim Weston, Dave, Mrs. Tony Robbins, and the townspeople of Eatonville.