In the story it states " When de man found de three doors fastened what useter stand wide open he swelled up like pine lumber after a rain. First thing he tried to break in cause he figgered his strength would overcome all obstacles........." God, women got me locked way from my vittles , my bed and my generations, and she say you give her keys." In this Hurston uses the keys to symbolize control . The women can have control in the household and relationships, and the control does not have to be physical. In these time women having control over anything was unheard of so Hurston challenged this stereotype in her writing in a feministic approach