Mule in the Yard is a short story written by William Faulkner, first published in Mules and Men (1935). It is set around the recollections of an old black man, John Pearson. Mule in the Yard tells the story of how Pearson’s grandfather owned a stubborn mule that lived up to its name even into old age.
The Mule in the Yard Summary: Mule in the Yard is a short story that provides an example of how close-knit families used to function. It begins with John Pearson, a black man from Mississippi who reminisces about his life from when he was young boy through to being much older. He tells stories about his father and grandfather, both farmers who would share their wisdom and knowledge freely with him growing up. As a child, he loved going down to the barn, where his grandfather would let him use a small stool so that he could watch as they took care of animals.
Pearson’s grandfather owned a mule named Pete who lived for over forty years and never learned how to work properly; he always caused problems for everyone. Mule in the Yard takes a turn when John Pearson’s grandfather gets sick. Mule in the Yard tells how John Pearson and his father were faced with a difficult task: they had to lead Mule Pete to pasture where he might be able to eat some grass and become strong enough for them to put him back into work.
Mule in the Yard was a very short story that illustrates a time in history that has passed by now, where families worked together and always watched out for each other. Mule Pete was like another member of the family.
The conflict in “Mule in the Yard” was when Mrs. Hait becomes upset when she finds a Mule in her yard and goes to the courthouse to ask the judge for help. This is because Mules are expensive and she doesn’t want it around. The Judge gets mad when he finds out that Mr. Snopes put it there, but lets him have it anyway. Protagonist of Mule in the Yard by William Faulkner – Mrs. Hait Antagonist of Mule in the Yard by William Faulkner – Mules.
The author used strong imagery by demonstrating strong character development with vivid details throughout Mule in the Yard by William Faulkner . For instance, at one point of time during Mule in the Yard by William Faulkner , Mrs. Hait was thinking, “She is not facing the Mule now; she has turned her back on it because it has no face-” (Faulkner 18). This clearly demonstrates Mule in the Yard by William Faulkner character development because it showed how Mule in the Yard by William Faulkner s were expensive and very important to Mrs. Hait. Mules are expensive, which is why Mr. Snopes put a Mule into Mrs. Hait’s yard without permission Mules are also known for their strength, but Mules can be stubborn too.
The author used use of irony throughout Mule in the Yard by William Faulkner . For instance, Mule in the Yard by William Faulkner !”> when Mrs. Hait is at the courthouse she thinks to herself “And this afternoon she would go down to Mott’s again and try to borrow enough money on her china cabinet to buy another Mule” (Faulkner 18). However, they were looking for a Mule that they could use for free. Irony in Mule in the Yard by William Faulkner – Mules are usually expensive but here it was used as something free.
Mule in the Yard was reprinted in A Faulkner Miscellany (1961), and later included as one of five stories contained within an eponymous book which also contained “Ambuscade”, “The Bear”, “Twilight” and “Skirmish at Sartoris”. Mule in the Yard is told from a third-person omniscient perspective. Mule in the Yard takes place leading up to World War II.
Mule in the Yard introduces readers to Mr. Snopes who is described as “a New Englander; rather, he was of that odd mixture which seems to be peculiar to the M.I.T. type: at once rural and citified; at once fastidious and down-at-heel.”
Mule in the Yard finds Mr. Snopes living on a Mississippi plantation with his wife and children where Mr. Snopes finds employment as an overseer working for Mink Snopes – Mink takes advantage of Mr. Snopes’ negligent work ethic by persuading him into taking care of Mink’s work load while Mink is away hunting and drinking and then subsequently fires him upon Mink’s return before proceeding to set fire to Mr. Snopes’ house — destroying it — leading Mr. Snopes to move in with Mink’s family at Mink’s residence until Mr. Snopes finds another job – this time for Mule in the Yard Mule in the Yard is filled with Southern Gothic literary devices including personification, symbolism and dialects Mule in the Yard was adapted into a screenplay which was then filmed as All the King’s Men (1949 film)
“Virgil Barnes had come to Jefferson about four years ago; at least, that was how long he had been told: “come during the war”, since no one nowadays ever dated anything from before the remission of hostilities. He himself would have thought it an even longer period if someone else hadn’t taken him aside and explained it to him, and the M.I.T., Mule in the Yard, and New Englander; rather, he was of that odd mixture which seems to be peculiar to the M.I.T. type: at once rural and citified; at once fastidious and down-at-heel.”
“Mink Snopes didn’t even say hallo, Mule in the Yard just came on into the kitchen where Mink was sitting with his coffee cup between his knees as if he had already been up all night though it wasn’t yet eight oclock —a thin man about thirty years old with a thin weathered face who wore a black suit and clerical collar Mule in the Yard looked neat enough but everything he had on seemed a little shabby, as Mink’s old white hat would be if Mink ever wore one Mule in the Yard was carrying a cheap new grip and Mink motioned him to put it down against the wall and told him to pull up a chair.”
