Symbols

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