Symbols- Hidden Meanings

Just as Zora Neale Hurston is a master of imagery, she is also very good at making seemingly innocent things into complex symbols, which are objects that stand for themselves as well as another meaning.  Below are ten of the symbols in Their Eyes Were Watching God.

Janie's Hair
Janie's hair is a powerful symbol, representing her freedom.  Men are attracted to her because of her hair, and they also find her independence fascinating.  Joe Starks tries to control Janie, so he makes her tie her hair back.





  
 The Pear Tree
The blooming pear tree represents growing up to Janie.  When she was 16, she saw a pear tree as a being with freedom, with life, that was growing up, and she desperately wanted to be a tree in bloom as well.

The Mule
The black woman was the mule of society in this book.  She had to carry the burdens that were passed down to her by her higher-ups: the white man, the white women, and then the black man.

The Gate
The gate symbolizes opportunity for Janie.  When she was 16, she gave her first kiss to Johnny Taylor over the gate.  Also, when she was unhappily married to Logan Killicks, she would wait at the gate post for new opportunities to be happy; and along came Joe Starks.
 



Head Rag
Joe makes Janie wear a head rag when she works at the store.  In doing so, Joe expresses his control over Janie, because he is making her cover her hair, and thus losing her freedom.

Sun-Up
For Janie, sun-up is a new day, filled with new opportunities.  Yesterday is in the past, and Janie has a whole new world ahead of her.





The Lamppost
The lamppost symbolizes Joe Starks and his power over the new town of Eatonville.  Just like a lamp lights up the dark, Joe accomplishes a lot of things in the new town.  The change is so profound it is like going from a dark room to bright day.







Joe Starks's House
Joe Starks has a big white house that diminishes everything else.  His house is showy and expensive.  It is also white; Joe Starks is a black man but he acts like a white man, and makes the other houses look like slave quarters.



The High Chair
Joe constantly references a "high chair."  This high chair is a seat of power, like a throne, and Joe Starks, the king of Eatonville, wants a throne.

Gold Tobacco Spittoon
Joe's gold spittoon is just another symbol of his wealth and power.  Other normal people would be happy to have it sitting on their mantle, but Joe would not be content with that; he, being above everyone else, has to spit in it, showing that he is special.


Works Cited
~http://www.folica.com/images/reviews/7/2797-sedu.jpg
~http://www.forestwander.com/wp-content/main/2009_04/white-pear-flowers-bloom.jpg
~http://www.urbin.net/EWW/images/ypics/end-mule.jpg
~http://www.southernexposurestourism.com/SET/Images/gate.jpg
~http://www.flickr.com/photos/9494078@N05/3695761514/
~http://images.paraorkut.com/img/wallpapers/1600x1200/s/sunrise-633.jpg
~http://www.tenayatravels.com/images/October%202006/Hoorn/lamppost.jpg
~http://www.hamptonconservatories.co.uk/images/sce/country-house/001-large.jpg
~http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o69/Yduke23/throne.jpg
~http://www.flickr.com/photos/drs2biz/4275934124/