Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, is a book filled with many different symbols and motifs. Janie is confused with her love life and what she wants and goes through a lot of men. One must never let someone else run their lives. Through the use of Janie's hair, Hurston conveys the motifs of restriction, opposition, and freedom.

Hurston expresses feelings of restriction through Janie's hair. While the men are gossiping and talking about Starks, someone says, "Whut make her keep her head tied up lak some ole `oman round de store? Nobody couldn't git me tuh tie no rag on mah head if Ah had hair lak dat" (Hurston 49). Starks forces Janie to tie her hair up; therefore, showing limitation and constraint on Janie. He feels insecure about himself and has to make someone else suffer just so he can get by. Joe doesn't...