In their eyes were watching God, Huston let’s the viewers know that Janie’s hair is a symbolic her identity and her strength. In three different ways, first is the way of her independence and opposition of the the community. Second is the way he hair is symbolized as phallic symbol of which blurs out the gender of men and women, finally the third symbolizes of whiteness.
At the very beginning when Jody and Janie arrived in the town, many critiques started. Far most Janie was the main target since she was a women with beautiful features and different from other colored people. She was even envioused by many women, but praised by many men due to her hair. Even though she was praised by the men many women thought that the way she let her hair down is a way of not having dignity, especially a women at her age.
Which later on ajody notices the attention Janie is getting and tells her to put her hair in a rag. This command of Jody reveals that he is very jealous and he is becoming controlling because he doesn’t want others touching his property. Like the way Hurston describes Jody by his saying, “Her hair was not to show in the store. It didn’t seem sensible at all. That was because Joe never told Janie how jealous he was.”
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Janie didn’t even consider to think that this rag was taking away her independence, womanhood, and her freedom. Instead only knowing that this are restrictions according to Jody, which will change the way she lived. As more years they spent together Janie starts to strive for independence. Her struggle was far to beyond and living up to his boundaries was killing her womanhood. Her long awaited time came to reality when Jody dies.
Janie was no longer going to let him control her. Which leads her to take off her rag. Her process of taking off the rag symbolizes her independence and freedom. “Before she slept that night she burnt up every one of her head rags. “By burning the rag it really shows that she is going to move on from this relationship. Which leads to her finally let others know that she won’t kneel down to them and that her strong spirit will rise far from their expectations.
The second symbol of her strength is the phallic symbol because the way she attracted men from many directions. Like Walter who was really attracted by Janie hair by, “standing behind Janie and brushing the back of his hand back and forth across the loose end of her braid ever so lightly so as to enjoy the feel of it without Janie knowing what he was doing.” This shows the way her hair can make men weak and her hair come to power with a masculinity. Which leads her to cover up the lines between the genders and rise her spirit even more.
As her final strength that really defined her throughout the novel which leads to better understand her significance as the representation of whiteness. When she meets Mrs.Turner she is this racist person who is against black people, but when she meet Janie she saw this white trait not caring if she is from a black family. As even suggesting her as a friend due to her, “coffee and cream complexion and her luxurious hair”, which represents whiteness. Mrs.Turner even worshipped her because she saw her as beyond the idols, which shows that Janie power is beyond useful because of her hair.
In conclusion, this three points shows that Janie had power from the beginning with Jody, Walter, and Mrs.Turner. This really helps to understand that Janie values freedom. Even opposed to be in a controlled relationship once again because she doesn’t want to feel miserable. Finally learning the rising up the spirit can help one to achieve their dream to have power over any gender.
