Motifs

Throughout Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston describes nature periodically. In most of these examples are shown connections between Janie and nature. One specific example of Janie connected to nature is her relation with trees. Therefore there is the idea that nature symbolizes Janie's true life and feelings. For example in the second chapter Hurston quotes "Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone. Dawn and doom was in the branches" (p 8). As shown Janie expresses how the leafed tree reflects what has happened in Janie's life. It also shows what will happen, which Hurston reveals as "doom".

Also on p. 11 Hurston describes Janie as a tree and makes the comparison that Janie" had glossy leaves and bursting buds and she wanted to struggle with life but it eluded her". This is a direct imagery of Janie being a tree. Janie is described as having glossy leaves which could be her hair and also bursting buds which symbolize her growing to be a woman. This quote shows Janie's true feelings with the tree because of Janie wanting to struggle with life but it would not struggle with her.

At first I believed the imagery of the tree to be a symbol of Janie. Yet looking closer I saw the image of the tree reaccured various times. Some show the tree being compared to Janie yet others are just images of a tree. For example "scrub oaks" (p 29) are shown where Janie goes to meet with Joe Starks scretly. This is not a comparison with Janie. Even though not the exact image each time, the tree always reflects Janie's true feelings. I am still not entirely sure about the imagery of the tree, but as shown from the many times a tree is described it is an important factor in this novel.