The metaphor of initiation
Shortly after leaving his childhood home, John dives into the Big Creek in order to get across it. In the Bible, the plunge in the water suggests letting go of the past life and getting out of it - the start of a new chapter. In a similar way, John distances himself from his family and early life and starts writing his own story. What he fails to understand throughout his whole journey, is that the broken connection to the past predestines trouble in the future.
Duets
One of the things which bring John and Lucy together are their duets at the church choir. The duet expresses metaphorically the harmony between two people. Ironically, they sing together the duet “Oh Soldier, Will You Marry Me” which tells the story of a maid trying to win the heart of a soldier by giving him expensive clothes. At the end of the piece, the soldier announces that he already has a wife. In Hurston’s novel, John is the one who later atones for his mistakes by buying Lucy clothes and fruits, but he also is the one who gets distracted by other women. Instead of a love duet, "Oh Soldier, Will You Marry Me" resembles a parody, which also indicates the problematic relationship of John and Lucy.
The wedding bed
The wedding bed is special for all newlyweds, as this is where they spend their most intimate moments together. In Jonah’s Gourd Vine, it obtains metaphorical meaning, because it is forcibly taken from the wife while the husband isn’t at home. This episode symbolizes the loss of connection between Lucy and John and it marks the beginning of the problems in their marriage.
The wolf pack
The community of Zion Hope is compared to a wolf pack when it turns against its own pastor John Pearson. Just like the wolf pack chases after a prey, the people of Sanford try to humiliate John collectively by not paying him for his work or by accusing him of murder. And although he doesn’t fight back, they don’t let go of him until he decides to leave town.
The Cadillac
The Cadillac that Sally buys John is a metaphor for their partnership which bases on finances rather than spiritual connection. Ironically, in this case Sally resembles the maid from the song “Oh Soldier, Will You Marry Me” which tries to win the man’s heart by purchasing expensive gifts for him. This marvelous car is also what attracts Ora, the young woman who seduces John before his death. So, the Cadillac might be seen as a metaphor for the insincere relations between people altogether.
