Symbolism in Their Eyes Were Watching God

1. Janies hair- It symbolizes her freedom. Her hair is beautiful flows without constraint which is like her spirit so she can do whatever she wants
2. Overalls- It shymbolizes that she is working and a poor women. All the townsfolk look at her and wonder why she works when she has a wealthy husband.
3. Pear tree- It symbolizes her blooming into womanhood. As she grows older, its like the tree blooming and thriving during spring.
4. Gate – The gate symbolizes her restrictions. When she was with Logan she wanted to get away from him because she wasn’t happy. When she finally leaves, it is like her leaving that life behind and having many new opportunities.
5. Mule- The mule symbolizes Joe Starks trying to win back Janie and thinking he can save his relationship with Janie.
6. Head rag- This symbolizes Joe Starks control over Janie. He can tell her what to do and she will do it. He takes away one of her key features to show how much he “owns” her.
7. Joe stark's house – This symbolizes his wealth and how he views himself to be higher than everyone else in the town. He is like a white man with a huge house while everyone else is living in slave houses.
8. Spittoons- This symbolizes how he thinks he is better than everyone else because he can spit in a gold vase instead of on the floor or getting up to spit outside.
9. Put her on a "high chair"- Joe Stark wanted everything for his wife. The “high chair” symbolizes his devotion to her to be as high and mighty as he is. Even though Janie is a woman, Joe wants her to be more important than a man.
10. Lamp lighting – This symbolizes the movement of the small town of Eatonville from a few shacks in the woods to a real town. It is a huge improvement from the time that Joe and Janie first laid eyes on it.