Canary (Symbol)
Julie's pet, a small bird in a cage, is a symbol of Julie and her predicament. When the canary is in the cage, it wants to get out and be free. The canary symbolizes Julie because she dreams to escape from home with Jean somewhere far away. However, Jean kills the bird and essentially kills Julie herself; she will never be free.
Miss Julie's Dream (Symbol)
In her dream, Miss Julie is high on a pillar and cannot come down even though she earnestly desires to do so. This symbolizes her lofty station in life as well as her frustrated wish to descend into the lower depths of class. Her dalliance with Jean can't do anything to obviate the reality of her circumstances.
Jean's Dream (Symbol)
In Jean's dream, he desires to ascend a tall tree but cannot, and is forced to remain always grasping, always wanting to be higher than he is. Clearly, this symbolizes his desire to move up in social class, but like Miss Julie's dream, it does not suggest that this will be possible for him.
Dirty Face (Symbol)
After their tryst Miss Julie is preparing to run away, and Jean points out that she has a dirty face. This symbolizes her "dirtiness" in having sex with Jean, which is primarily because he is of a lower class. She has descended into the muck and has muddied herself in the process.
Boots (Symbol)
The Count's boots are a stand-in for the Count himself, and are frequently invoked by Jean to indicate his discomfort with what has happened with Julie. In a larger way, the boots also symbolize patriarchy and authority, indelibly intertwined within the figure of the Count.
