Symbolism in Their Eyes Were Watching God

Symbolism is shown everyday in life through many different things. What people wear and how they act symbolize who they are. The way they treat people or react to others is a way people can judge their personality. In the book Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston uses three main ideas of symbolism: the pear tree, Janie's name, and her hair. <Tab/>Janie's sixteenth summer opens a new perspective …

…name, and her hair all show symbolism in common ways. They show sexuality in becoming a woman. The crossing over from a innocent child, being pushed into a relationship too soon, and becoming a woman helps Janie to find herself and realize her beauty and enables her to enjoy life with out being one man's mule or another man's adornment. Through the book she learns two things to trust in God and live for herself.