In "The Revolt of 'Mother'" how does Freeman reveal Mother's character through description and figurative language?

The descriptions of Mother and figurative
language show that she is strong.

Although
mother tells Nanny Penn that women folk know nothing, according to men, she is actually
a strong character.  When her husband decides to build a bigger barn instead of the
better house he promised her, she is irritated and she decides to do something about
it.

Sarah Penn’s irritation is demonstrated by her
reactions to finding out her husband is building a barn.  She shoved her daughter aside,
“plunged her hands vigorously into the water,” and “scrubbed a dish fiercely.”  The fact
that she shows her displeasure in her housework demonstrates an awareness of her station
in life and how she can use it.

Sarah gets the idea to use
what strength and power she has.  She moves into the
barn. 

With
partitions and windows, what a house would there be! Sarah looked at the row of
stanchions before the allotted space for cows, and reflected that she would have her
front entry there.

There, she
is described with figurative language.  The peas she is shelling are compared to
bullets, and “the barn threshold might have been Plymouth Rock from her bearing” when
the minister confronts her.  She does not back down.  Her husband built a bigger barn
when he promised her a bigger house, so she moved into the
house.