The symbolic dreams
The novel opens with dreams about racism and warfare, which Jones recounts. The dreams are about violence, so the dreams set a tone for the novel to keep our eye on the issue of violence. By the end of the novel, Jones's premonitions come true in an interesting way. Racism and warfare are literally linked in his story, because his willingness to do violence against racists leads to his actual enlistment in the army to go fight in WWII. His dreams come true.
The demotion as a symbol
When Jones is demoted at work, that is evidence to him that he is still mistreated about his race. This becomes a symbol for the disenfranchisement of black men from power, because even though there was some ambiguity in the situation at work (perhaps it was correct to demote him), he knows that the truth of the situation is that he is being treated without the benefit of the doubt, even though this woman was extremely disrespectful and inflammatory.
The symbolic uniform
When Jones goes to work, he feels proud to put on his uniform. He happily represents his company, because he feels empowered by them. Unlike many of his black friends and family, he was actually given a promotion at work, which his uniform signifies. The uniform represents success in the one regard that Jones hopes for most: earning the respect of his community. That means that the uniform represents that he is not in fact respected by his community, because he quickly loses his promotion and the novel is about that disappointment.
The motif of unhelpful women
Jones is also lonely. He wants to be in a relationship with someone, but of the three women in the plot, none are good options. He flirts with a girl named Ella, but without his uniform, he can't find the confidence to pursue her. His other option is a light-skinned black girl who just doesn't understand the severity of his suffering. She knows about racism, but in a less serious way, having been insulated by her lighter skin and her father's wealth. She advises him badly, because she is part of the white culture that oppresses him. His only other option is Madge, a mentally unstable white woman who calls him racial slurs and then wants to have sex with him, but only to humiliate herself, as if Jones were an animal.
The gun
The crucial symbol of the story is the gun that Jones carries at the end of the story with the intent to murder some white racists. He views the racial situation in his culture as a kind of warfare, and if the uniform meant that Jones was content to participate in his society, the gun represents his willingness to do violence and execute vengeance for his constant mistreatment. The dream's prophecies for violence and warfare come true because slowly, his character is eroded by constant mistreatment, and he becomes corrupted and violent himself. The gun symbolizes his moral corruption.
