In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Logan Killicks, Janie's first husband, is stable and financially secure. It is these qualities that lead Janie's grandmother, Nanny, to make the match between them without reference to Janie's views. It is not long before Janie gives up any idea of emotional fulfilment in their marriage, as she sees that Logan regards it as a business transaction and regards her as another of his possessions, to be used as efficiently as possible.

One morning, Logan announces that he is going into Lake City to buy another mule. When Janie asks why he needs two mules, he says that he is hoping for a large potato harvest this year and intends to run two plows to increase output. He adds, significantly, that the mule he plans to buy is docile enough for a woman to handle. It is clear that Logan expects Janie to plow the fields alongside him.

This scene emphasizes the initial contrast between Logan Killicks and Jody Starks, who is just about to enter. Janie leaves Logan for Jody because her first husband treats her more like a mule than a woman, expecting to get a certain amount of work out of her in exchange for providing her with bed and board. This apparent contrast makes it all the more disappointing when Jody turns out to have a similar attitude.