Symbol list
Roots of trees- African people without any roots
Pear tree- Janie's budding womanhood
Mule - Black women get the worst treatment. Logan buys Janie a mule to represent how he is tired of treating Janie like a princess or white woman, he wants her to do heavy labor on the farm
Gate and the road - related to he metaphor at the beginning of the book. The Gate is the shore and the road represents the waves as Janie looks down the road to find a new dream
The New Horizon- Janie is constantly looking over the gatepost, down the road, to a new horizon ( a dream or new start).
The Eatonville General store- Represents the center of this first all-black town.
The illumination of the lamp post represents the start of a new all-black town. It also shows that Joe Starks is all-powerful and likes others to bow down to him, including Janie.
Joe and Janie's two story house - seems to represent his similarity to a plantation owner, while the hard-working townspeople live in small shack style homes like servants quarters .
Tobacco spittoon- this Represents again how wealthy Joe is
Guitar- playful side of people
Overalls- working side equality
Janie's head rag- Bondage to Joe
Janie's long braid - freedom
Color blue- Tea Cake and Janie's proof of love for each other
Fishing- Sharing relationship
Checkers- Janie's equality with Tea Cake
Packet of seeds- new life and remembering
Booker/ Ms. Turner- racism within a race
Muck- The dirt working class, rich, growth
Hurricane- God's almighty power
Rabid dog- When good happens life changes
