Symbols in Their Eyes Were Watching God.

     Their eyes were watching God had a lot of great Symbols. They were all very deep and meaningful to the story. They all helped tell the story better too. They ranged from little things like a head rag to big things like the muck itself. They were all good and showed off Zora’s great writing ability and ability to really describe a book well.

                To start we have the pear tree in the beginning of the book. It describes Janie coming of ages and blooming like the tree is. The tree is just beginning to bloom just like she is. Next is how Logan makes Janie do hard work which shows the end of his love for her and that he wants her to only work now and not be pampered. Next we have the store which is a humongous symbol. It is the heart of Eatonville and the beginning of the town’s greatness. It is a part of the whole story and many important things happen there in the “heart of the town.” The light in Eatonville represents a lot of new things also. It shows the town is moving forward and out of darkness (hence the light). It also shows of Joe’s power and how he can just go out and get the light. It also showed the light of God or at least to the townspeople it did. Joe’s big house showed his power over the people. He lived in the big house and everyone else lived in shacks. It symbolized him almost being like a slave owner on a plantation making everyone else do the hard work. Then the Spittoon Joe had also showed his and Janie’s power and wealth. He was better than everyone and could afford to spit in a Spittoon and not on the ground. He could just spit his tobacco inside. Next up is Tea Cake’s guitar. It showed of his gentle, fun, and relaxed side. He always played it for Janie in bad situations or to make her happy so it also means being happy. Janie’s overalls represent her not being super important high class Mayor Janie. She was now a worker like everyone else and wasn’t all high up like Joe made her out to be. She was just like her love, Tea Cake.  Janie’s head rag Joe gave her represented Joe’s control over Janie. Joe made sure Janie didn’t go off with any other man by hiding her hair and made sure she kept it on. She then burned it when she was free of Joe. This is a major symbol. Second to last the color blue means Janie being happy and free. She was free from Joe and with her true love Tea Cake. For once in her life she was truly happy with a man. Finally there is the checkers another huge symbol. When Janie was with Joe it showed her being controlled and put down by him. She always wanted to play but was too stupid. When she met Tea Cake he let her play and even called her smart.

                These are all of Zora’s great symbols in the book. There were some more but these were all the biggest most important ones. They all had great meaning and gave the book a deeper meaning. Truthfully I think they made the book better.