Their Eyes Were Watching Dan's Symbolism

"Their Eyes Were Watching God" contains an extensive amount of symbolism integrated into the story by author Zora Neal Hurston. Most of the symbolism revolves around the central point of oppression brought upon the black women in a venomous hybrid of sexism and racism. Whether or not Hurston intended all of this symbolism to be interpreted from the story, or whether she was just trying to convey a simple love story, is up to the reader.

These are a few examples of symbolism noticed in the book:

 • Trees/Roots- African people without any roots

 • Pear tree- Janie's budding womanhood, coming of age

 • Mule- the black woman's experience. She does the worst jobs for white people and black man. She gets  "walked on." Logan buys Janie a mule to represent how he is tired of treating Janie like a princess or white  woman, and now he wants her to do the heavy labor jobs around the farm.

 • Gate/Road- Related to the metaphor at the beginning. The Gate is the shore and the Road represents the  waves as Janie looks down the road to find a new dream. Opportunity.

 • The New Horizon- Janie is constantly looking over the gatepost, down the road, to a new horizon; a dream or new start

 • Eatonville General Store- represents the center of this first all-black town

 • Illumination of the lamp post represents the start of a new all-black town. It also shows that Joe Starks is omnipotent and likes other to bow down to him, including Janie.

 • Joe and Janie's two-story house- Seems to represent his similarity to a plantation owner, while the hard-working townspeople live in smaller shack-style homes like servants' quarters.

 • Tobacco spittoon- represents how wealthy Joe is

 • Guitar- playful side of people

 • Overalls- Working side of people

 • Janie's hair hanging down represents her freedom

 • Janie's hair rag represents her bond and acquiescence to Joe Starks

 • The color blue represents a compromise between Janie and Tea Cake

 • Checkers- Janie's equality with Tea Cake; didn't have that with Joe

 • Packet of seeds- rebirth, new life, remembrance, rejuvenation

 • Fish- sharing of relationship

 • Muck- the dirt represents working class, becoming rich, growth

 • Hurricane- God's almighty power