Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, is heavily embellished with themes and motifs that contribute to it being an eccentric piece of work. The novel prompts insightful questions over whether or not love and independence can coincide and brings up themes of sexuality and power. One thought provoking aspect of Hurston’s writing is her frequent application of nature to the novel’s symbols and motifs. A great deal of the symbolism in the book is portrayed through nature; such as, the pear tree, the hurricane, and the horizon, which are all aspects of nature that Hurston utilizes. Along with nature, Hurston uses physical attributes as well. The roles of the pear tree and Janie’s hair aid Hurston in creating the significant themes …show more content…
Throughout the entire book, Janie is caught in a power struggle between herself and those around her, especially with the men in her life. She strives to maintain the balance between achieving fulfillment through love and through power. Her journey to seek both love and independence, while opposing, is sought through the exertion of power. Yet at times she is stripped of all her power; for example, in chapter five Janie begins to become oppressed by Jody when he refuses to let her wear her hair down. “Her hair was NOT going to show in the store. It didn’t seem sensible at all.” (Hurston 55). The remark regarding Janie’s hair gives understanding as to why it could be considered oppressive. The choice of something as simple as a hairstyle is left not to Janie’s discretion, but Jody’s. Not only was Janie’s hair symbolic of Jody’s control over her, it was representative of his belief that Janie was his property. Jody treats Janie as if she is an object and he commands her to do things that will please only him; for instance, when Jody demands Janie adhere to his rules, “That night he ordered Janie to tie up her hair around the store. That was all. She was there in the store for him to look at, not those others.” (Hurston 55). Jody’s controlling nature causes a lot of problems in their relationship, leading Janie to desire independence once again. Janie’s quest for fulfillment through power is put to a halt when her relationship with Jody becomes troublesome and he begins excessively controlling her. Although Janie’s desires of wanting both love and independence are somewhat contradicting, she never ceases to achieve them. After the death of Jody, Janie has a powerful moment, “She tore off the kerchief from her head and let down her plentiful hair. The weight, the length, the glory was there.” and she is finally released from Jody’s oppressive tendencies (Hurston 87). Not only was