After the townspeople complete the dragging-out ceremony, Hurston briefly shifts the narrative focus to a community of buzzards (p.61-62) and describes the buzzards’ ceremony over the dead mule. What is the significance of this passage in terms of the structure of the novel? How does it contribute to the tone of the book?
Nature, in the form of buzzards, is able to articulate Janie's rage, and speak for the mule. The chief buzzard is seems like a religious figure; Hurston refers to him as the Parson. When the Parson asks what killed the mule, the other buzzard's answer "fat." The reader could interpret this reply as meaning that Joe killed the mule by freeing it because it was fed too much too suddenly.
2. What happened that caused Joe to tell Janie to wear a head-rag while she works? How does she feel about wearing it? Do you think it would have made a difference if Joe had told her that he was
jealous?
