We closely explored the deterioration of Janey's marriage to Joe as Joe deprives Janey of her "voice" . We noted Janey's growing more fractious as she challenges Joe's masculinity resulting in Joe's violently striking her. We discussed how the depiction of Black society as violent and uneducated resulted in the Black literary world ostracizing the author. We also analyzed an intricate metaphor comparing Janey as a jewel covered by the mud of the oppression of a domineering husband.