Metaphors In Their Eyes Were Watching God

In the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neal Hurston, many symbols and metaphors appear to fully depict how Janie lived her life and what kinds of things she believed in. Hurston uses metaphors to describe the lessons Janie learned as well as the expectations that she set for herself growing up in such an unstable environment. Janie, the main character, references many symbols, as they all have a great influence on her life as well as the decisions she made, the metaphors in the novel bolster our understanding of why Janie was the way she was, and why it was important for her to find a stable relationship that would give all that she wanted. Janie always viewed the horizon as ever changing, because she could always go further and

After Jody becomes controlling and is no longer loving towards Janie, she expresses “no more blossomy opening dusting pollen over her man. Neither glistening young fruit where petals used to be” (Hurston 72). The author uses the words “blossomy”, “pollen”, “fruit”, “petals” to describe how Janie was feeling towards the men in her life. In this part of the book Janie begins to lose feelings for Jody, therefore not feeling these anymore. In the beginning of the novel it is described that blossoms, flowers and nature represent perfect love for Janie, however when she begins to no longer feel love towards Jody she reveals that she no longer feels these emotions, causing her to be eager for change yet again. After being with Tea Cake for a little while, Janie begins to feel strong feelings towards him which she describes as if “he could be a bee to a blossom–a pear tree blossom in the spring” (Hurston 106). Hurston utilizes the words “pear tree blossom in the spring” to portray how Janie felt towards Tea Cake. Janie felt like Tea Cake was like spring, and pear trees, which is how she wanted to feel when being around someone that she loved. Janie creates an image for herself which she looks back on every time she meets someone, because if she does not feel this way about someone she believes that he is not the right person. Through the use of these metaphors we are able to understand how Janie really did want to find someone who would be the perfect match for