"The young girl was gone, but a handsome woman had taken her place. She tore off the kercheif from her head and let down her plentiful hair. The weight, the length, the glory was there." (Pg. 87)
Significance of the Hair
Jaine's hair represents freedom. When Jody is oppressing her, she is forced to keep her hair wrapped up. However, once Jody dies and she lets her hair down, she is free. It is a symbol of her rebellious spirit because most of the women in Eastonville think it is undignified for a woman of her age to have her hair down. Janie's spirit allows her to not conform to the normal day to day of the normal woman's life. Since she keeps her hair down it also represents her power, power that threatens Jody. Her failure to fit in to the mold that other women have carved out for her threatens the power of men by proving that she doesn't have to bow to them. Jody makes her keep her hair up to maintain his role as the leader in the relationship.
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