Symbolism

Janie’s hair shows independence from men by going against social norms and wearing it down even when she gets older.

The overalls tell people that Janie does not care what others think; she does what makes her comfortable.

The pear tree symbolizes love to her, and what the perfect love to be because that is the place that she always went when she had spare time, and she also wants her husband to appreciate the pear tree's beauty as much as she does. It also kind of symbolizes her growth and becoming a woman. It blooms and grows as time goes on just as she is.

The gate represents the confines of marriage and that she is stuck inside a marriage she does not want to be in. She cannot get out and see the world.

The horizon represents that there is always tomorrow and tomorrow will always hold a second chance, like the song, “Tomorrow,” from Annie. Janie sees the horizon over her gate and it gives her hope that things will be better.

The mule symbolizes that these people’s work is never done and they have to do it to live, even though it is killing them. Matt Bonner’s mule symbolizes that Joe wants to make some things up to Janie and to show the townspeople that he is a good person.

Manure pile symbolizes that Logan and Janie's marriage is only based on her doing hard work when he doesn't want to do it. Nanny also said that when the guy kissed her over the fence, he was wiping manure on her and walking all over her. The manure symbolizes men walking all over her and making her do things that she doesn’t want to do.

The head rag symbolizes men taking away Janie’s freedom and sort of her womanhood also. Joe just doesn’t want other men to look at her, and that kind of takes away her womanhood.

Checkers symbolizes that Joe thinks that women are good for helping out, but cannot actually do things. Joe also thinks that they are not as intelligent as men and are not capable of doing a lot of things.

Joe Stark’s house symbolizes Joe being above everyone else even though he is black just like everyone else. He is also trying to set himself above the white people.