Chapter 6 starts off with Janie talking about how she dislikes working in the store. It then goes on to talk about the people who sit on the porch of the store and their gossiping about Matt Bonner’s Mule. Janie wants to join in on their conversation but Joe prohibits it. It is at this point in the novel where we learn why Joe wants Jodie to keep her hair up. He does this due to jealousy stemming from other men looking at her hair. In one instance, Joe saw Walter playing with the end of Janie’s hair. It was after this instance that Joe demanded her hair be tied up. The book says, “She was in the store for him to look at, not those others” (55). This shows how Joe views Janie: as his property. 

This chapter also holds a lot of references to mules. It starts with people talking about how badly Matt Bonner treats his mule, then Janie getting sad at this treatment, and finally, Joe buying the mule for 5 dollars. Joe is seen as a hero for buying the mule to set it free. When the mule dies, Joe prohibits Janie from attending its funeral showing yet another example of Joe limiting Janie’s power and treating her like property. 

In addition to Joe limiting Janie's power in this chapter, the couple starts to have more fights. The first fight happens in the store when Janie accuses Joe of prohibiting her from having fun and they start to argue about the topic. In this case, Janie fights to hold her tongue but does so anyway. Again, Janie can not find the pig’s feet for a customer and Joe yells at her. She still decides to hold her tongue. 

This chapter also shows Joe physically abusing Janie. Joe slaps Janie because she messed up a dinner.

Janie finally speaks up when the men on the porch are making fun of Mrs. Robinson and she says, “It’s so easy to make yo’ self out God Almighty when you ain't got nothin’ tough against but women and chickens” (75). She is immediately silenced by Joe, but this instance is the first where she speaks her mind. 

Chapter 7 focuses on Joe and Janie as they get older. Joe becomes more verbally abusive towards Janie in attempts to make her feel bad about her aging looks. This all stems from his own insecurity from growing old, as he is older than Janie. One day at the store Joe insults Janie's looks and so she insults him right back. Out of pure rage, he hits her. This is where the chapter ends.

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