Symbolism in "Their Eyes Were Watching God"

• Pear trees represents Janie's development into a women.
• The mule symbolizes black women because the work of everyone else is dumped on them. In the story,Logan buys a mule for Janie to use to do his work for him.
• Relating to the metaphor at the beginning of the story the gate and the road symbolize opportunity.
• Eatonville general store represents the town becoming official.
• Lights in the town are illuminating the town's victory. They have moved up in power and so has Joe Starks.
• Joe and Janie's house is big while all the other homes are tiny. He looks like a plantation owner and all the towns people are his slaves.

• The tobacco spittoons represents Joe's power.

• The guitar shows the playful side of people.

• Overalls represent the working class.

• Janie's head rag symbolizes her bondage to Joe.

• Janie's braid symbolizes her freedom.

• The color blue represents Janie's proof of love to Tea Cake because he likes the color on her and she wears it for him.

• Hunting and fishing  is symbolic of Janie and Tea Cake's ability to give and take in their relationship.

• Checkers  represent Janie's equality with Tea Cake.
• The packet of seeds represents new life.
• The muck symbolizes rich culture.

• Hurricanes represents God's power.

Picture: http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=72m8Ter5FOmV0QHRk-SwBg&ved=0CDYQvwUoAQ&q=tired+mule+pulling+plow&spell=1&biw=1066&bih=546