Question

What does the hurricane demonstrate to Janie in their eyes were watching God?

Answer 1

In literature, symbols can generally be understood to be universal.  Thus, when analyzing symbolism in writing, a good place to start is to think about what a certain type of symbol means to you.  That said, when we think about a hurricane, some possible things to come to mind could be devastation, death, water, wind, and even the cruelty of Mother Nature.  On the flipside of that, out of the devastation brought upon by a storm such as a hurricane, new life and a new beginning can come.  Thus a hurricane to Janie could mean all this.