PATTERN 1
References to mules appear a lot in the novel, specifically in the case of an actual mule and its relationship to the people in the town.
Nanny is the first to compare black women to mules.
"De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so far as Ah can see." (14)
Then the literal mule appears in the novel, and Hurston writes a lot about what the mule is like.
"There would be more stories about how poor the brute was; his age; his evil disposition and his latest caper. Everybody indulged in mule talk." (53)
"...he had more spirit left than body...Everyone was having fun at the mule-baiting. All but Janie." (56)
PATTERN 2
Hurston writes a lot about nature, but I noticed that a lot of her imagery involves wind and what wind does. She also compares certain characters to wind.
""He's a whirlwind among breezes," Jeff Bruce threw in.
"Speakin' of winds, he's de wind and we'se de grass. We bend which ever way he blows,"" (49)
"...de mule wuz dead in behind 'im and gainin' on 'im every jump, when all of a sudden de wind changed and blowed de mule way off his course, him bein' so poor and everything...." (53)
"She was a wind on the ocean. She moved men, but the helm determined the port." (70)
PATTERN 3
Along the same vein as wind, Hurston refers to petals and buds a lot to describe Janie and her feelings.
"From barren brown stems to glistening leaf-buds; from the leaf-buds to snowy virginity of bloom. It stirred her tremendously." (10)
"She had glossy leaves and bursting buds..." (11)
After Jody slaps Janie, she doesn't love him much anymore. Hurston says, "She wasn't petal-open anymore with him." (71)
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