In this passage, Janie's marriage is not described as a very cheerful one. Throughout the passage Janie thinks and reflects on her relationship and uses many techniques to enhance and clearly show her feelings. Diction, tone, imagery, and details are some of the rhetorical strategies that are used.
             Janie's tone can be described as cold. Her repetitive shutting out and purposeful ignorance towards Joe clearly demonstrates the bitterness in the relationship. Through Janie's reactions such as "[pressing] her teeth together and learned to hush," and not being "petal-open anymore with him," are key thoughts Janie makes that give the passage its tone.
             One strategy that goes hand-in-hand with the tone of a passage is diction. There are many unpleasant words and thoughts added to enhance Janie's negative attitude. Such are words like "fought", "submission", "slapped", "scorchy, soggy, tasteless mess", and "shattered" that make a good diction for a "cold" tone.
             The passage is helped made real to the reader by imagery. After having "fought back with her tongue as best she could, but it didn't do [Janie] any good" Janie is left with a feeling of hopelessness that the reader can now visualize through a losing battle being fought by her through words. Other imagery used would be "she wasn't petal-open anymore with him" which helps show the shut-out feeling of the relationship and "something fell off the shelf inside her...It was her image of Jody tumbled down and shattered." which shows the disappointment of Janie towards her husband.
             Details may seem insignificant, but when used in moderation, they can become an invaluable part of a passage trying to make a point. The detail of the relationship being strictly centered around the parlor and having nothing to do with the bedroom shows the lack of ro...