How symbolism is used in Their Eyes Were Watching God Zora Neale Hurston uses symbolism to enhance characterization in her novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and symbolism is portrayed through the heroine of the novel, Janie Crawford. Three uses of symbolism are through Janie’s hair, the store porch, and the pear tree. The way Janie wears her hair expresses her level of freedom. The male characters of Eatonville gather outside on the store …showed first 75 words of 568 total…

…showed last 75 words of 568 total…life. Symbolism enhances characterization in Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God. By the way Janie wears her hair, the style states whether she has the freedom of her “voice” or not. The store porch is a very popular spot for the males to gather in Eatonville to buy groceries and discuss affairs. The pear tree is an expression of Janie and her internal emotions. Symbolism is displayed well throughout the novel to enhance characterization.