What Does Janie's Hair Symbolize In Their Eyes Were Watching God

Write about a symbol and relate it to characterization, plot, etc.

The novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, is a novel that is a perfect representation of its time period. The novel was written in the 1930’s which was a time period filled with racism and sexual oppression, and this time period caused black women in American to become the most oppressed. The numerous symbols within the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God are able to capture these cultural ideals at the time and were influenced heavily by the time period. Specifically, Janie’s hair and her rags are representative of her non-conformity to society's standards which further characterizes her as independent.
Janie's hair is a reminder throughout the entire novel that she is unconventional and a strong woman which causes her to be characterized as independent. It is obvious from the start that Janie is not a typically women for this time period and she does not follow society’s rules, which is evident when the town people continuously comment on her appearance: "What dat ole forty year ole 'oman doin' wid her hair swingin' down her back lak some young gal?” Her hair is mentioned often by the townspeople, and the tone the people use to describe her hair is typically with disdain as evident by calling Janie a
Her hair serves as a reminder throughout the novel of the social pressures and expectations people, especially black women, were suppose to follow during this time period. The racial tensions were high throughout the country and many were oppressed through racism and sexism. These hurdles cannot be ignored, so it is important to identify the importance of Janie's hair to the overall understanding of the novel. Through symbolism, Hurston was able to portray a real example of the oppression and conflicts many faced during the