“It was especially noticeable after Joe had forced through a town ditch to drain the street in front of the store. They had murmured hotly about slavery being over, but every man filled his assignment. There was something about Joe Starks that cowed the town. It was not because of physical fear. He was no fist fighter. His bulk was not even imposing as men go. Neither was it because he was more literate than the rest. Something else made men give way before him. He had a bow-down command in his face, and every step he took made the thing more tangible” (62)
Hyperbole: “He was no fist fighter,” this phrase doesn’t necessary need to be here but it proves a point that Joe Starks isn’t a big person physically nor wants to fight with anyone. Hurston I think just puts it there to make the reader understand more why he isn’t a physical threat.
Conflict: There is a conflict between the town and Joe Starks but the people of the town aren’t willing to stand up for themselves because he scares them. The town though is on happy because they thought slavery is over but now there are doing all this work for one man but they aren’t willing to stand up to him because he is creating the town and they wouldn’t last and finish the job without him.
Antihero: Joe Starks because he is a smart, wealthy character but scares the town. He is helping the town because the town can start seeing the other end of the “rode” or should I say there is actually becoming a town now.
Tone: nerve-racking/tense right now because they aren’t quite sure what Joe Starks is going to do next.
Mood: It makes me unhappy that the town is so fearful of Joe Starks because he is doing all these great things for the town and they are just so afraid of him. I probably would be a little too though just because a man comes into the town and starts running it how he wants but he stepped up and is forming the town into a better place.
Purpose: The purpose of this passage is to show how the town is feeling about Joe Starks and how he isn’t much of a physical threat at all but a little bit maybe more of an intellectual threat.
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