How Does Zora Neale Hurston Use Symbols In Their Eyes Were Watching God

Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, is a novel about a woman, Janie, who is searching for her independence. Her Nanny, grandmother, stole her independence by sending her off to marrying Logan Killicks. Joe Starks also took her independence by making her work in a store. Hurston uses the image of Janie’s hair that independence is found when one is no longer controlled by others. when Janie was living with her Nanny, her Nanny would always put her hair in a braids. Janie put her hair in braid symbolizes that she is young and bounded to Nanny. Nanny has too much control over Janie, “ She slapped the girl’s face violently, and forced her head back so that their eyes met in struggle”( Hurston 14). Nanny slapped Janie because