In Their Eytes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston uses recurring symbols to help show Janie's journey of self-exploration and search for meaning. By far the strongest symbol is the pear tree. The pear tree is the embodiment of what Janie seeks through out the novel, a marriage in which both parties give and take, and benefit from, as do the bees and the blossoms. But Janie's quest is plagued by Nanny's perception of men, which also alters her perception of herself.

Hurston portrays the conflict between the two ideas of marriage well, by changing in mid page from the free, inquisitive Janie under the pear tree, to Nanny's cynical dialogue about how men have exploited her and Janie's mother. Janie sees Johnny Taylor as "a glorious being coming up the road" (11), where as Nanny characterizes Johnny as a "trashy nigger, usin' yo' body to wipe his foots on" (12).

The pear tree and the bees symbolize to Janie what love and marriage are supposed to be, a self-rewarding relationship. Where as Nanny sees marriage as a tool to be used in protecting Janie from the evils of men. Hurston points this out in Nanny's reasonin

Her marriage to Logan starts to turn sour, as soon as it begins, "the house was absent of flavor" (21) and with in three months Janie is troubled with the relationship and goes to see Nanny about how to love. But to Nanny, love is the protection and security of a well off man. Janie refuses this notion and counters that she "she wants to want him sometimes" (22). Janie's idea of marriage is " 'things sweet wid mah marriage lak when you sit under a pear tree and think Ah ...' " (23). Janie realizes that Nanny's idea of love does come with marriage, but her own idea does not. Although Logan's change in attitude is catalyst for her to leave him, she is destined to by the end of chapter three when Hurston writes "Janie's first dream was dead" (24). Janie is like a bee and like all bees she will leave a tree when it's pollen dries up, it is just a matter of time.

g behind why she thinks Logan Killicks is best for Janie, " ' 'Tain't Logan Killicks Ah wants you to have, baby, it's protection' " (14). Nanny then goes on to tell her life story of being used by men, which further corrupts Janie's quest for a bee and blossom relationship. After Nanny's historical narrative, Janie agrees to marry Logan Killicks. Janie's lack of experience requires her to ask others about marriage and love, and "made a sort of comfort for herself" (20) by believing that she would find love in her marriage with Logan Killicks.

Janie's relationship with Tea Cake becomes possible only after she dismisses all the conventional wisdom given to her by Nanny, Phoebe and

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1051
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)