Definition of Symbolism
In literature, symbolism is the act of using objects, characters, figures, or colors to stand for ideas or occurrence that are not physically present. These symbols are not only the literal ones but they are filled with more than the physical meanings.
Symbolism makes writing more expressive since the writer is able to convey certain themes, emotions or messages to the readers in a rather indirect manner. Symbolism enhances the account and enables the readers to read the work on different planes and dimensions thus adding depth to it.
Examples of Symbolism
Objects as Symbols
Objects are usually employed as symbols to impart deep meanings. For instance, in “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the green light symbolizes the unachievable dreams of Gatsby and deceptive nature of the American Dream.
Characters as Symbols
The characters may also used as symbols. In the novel “The Scarlet Letter”, the daughter of Hester Prynne namely Pearl symbolizes the effects of sin and the living incarnation of her mother’s wrongdoing.
Colors as Symbols
The colors often convey symbolic meanings. In the literature, the white color is the symbol of purity and innocence, whereas the black color reflects mourn or evil. The writer Herman Melville in “Moby-Dick” employs the white color of the whale, which symbolizes the mysterious and horrific nature of the unknown.
How Writers Use Symbolism
Writers employ symbolism to add depth and meaning to their work. Symbols create link between different elements of the story, emphasize the themes, and invoke emotional responses from the readers. The writers by using symbolism make the readers able to understand deep explanation of the text.
Enhancing Themes
Symbols are employed to enhance the themes by giving physical images to the abstract ideas. For example, in the novel “1984”, Big Brother has been used as a symbol to represent the prevalent observations and harsh control of the authoritarian regime.
Creating Mood and Atmosphere
Symbols are used to create mood and atmosphere in the story. In the gothic tales, the author Edgar Allan Poe used the symbols to invoke a sense of dread and apprehension. In “The Masque of the Red Death”, the ebony clock reflects the inescapable passage of time and the approach of death.
Developing Characters
The characters are developed through the use of symbols. They show their inner states and thematic roles. In the novel “The Catcher in the Rye” authored by J.D. Salinger, the red hunting hat of Holden Caulfield symbolizes his wish for singularity and protection from the world.
See also: Literary Devices That Start With S
Concepts Conveyed Through Symbolism
Mortality
Mortality is a common notion, that is conveyed through symbolism. In the poem “Because I could not stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson, the carriage ride symbolizes the journey towards the death and the passage of the life.
Identity
Another concept i.e. the identity is used through symbolism. In “Invisible Man”, the briefcase reflects the changing identity of the protagonist and the burden he bears.
Freedom and Oppression
In literature, the symbols are used to bring themes of freedom and oppression. The novel of Harper Lee “To Kill a Mockingbird” reflects the innocence and unjustified distress facing by the innocent.
Related Terms with Symbolism
Metaphor
Metaphor makes a direct comparison between the two dissimilar things by considering that one is the other. Both metaphors and symbols carry deep meanings. The difference between these two terms is that, the metaphors are clear in their terms, whereas the symbols need explanation.
Allegory
Allegory is a story, wherein the characters, events and settings reflect abstract ideas and moral qualities. Allegories are regarded as extended metaphors and are often used with a series of symbols to bring broader message.
Motif
A motif is a prevalent aspect in a literary work. It is helpful to develop and inform the major themes of the text. Motifs may be symbols, themes and ideas that occur repeatedly throughout the story.
Examples of Symbolism in Literature
1- “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther…” (Chapter 9)
The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock symbolizes what Gatsby is striving for and represents his future. It represents the concept of the American Dream as well as an unattainable ideal. The light is always on the other side, which mirrors the attainment of success and happiness in the novel.
2- “Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville
“The Whiteness of the Whale passed before him, as the monumental white shroud of ocean envelops the pursued and the pursuer in its winding-sheet.” (Chapter 42)
The white whale, Moby Dick is an allegy of the unexplainable and the beyond. It is an example of white, which symbolizes cleanliness and fear at the same time, and thus creates a feeling of respect. The whale is perhaps the novel’s reflection of the themes of obsession, nature, and human reason.
3- “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
“Her Pearl—for so had Hester called her; not as a name expressive of her aspect, which had nothing of the calm, white, unimpassioned lustre that would be indicated by the comparison.” (Chapter 6)
The Pearl in the novel is associated with the living result of the sin of adultery that Hester committed. This is so because the name Hester reveals the high price the woman had to pay for her sin, as is the case with a precious pearl. The character of Pearl is a living symbol of Hester’s sin and the interrelated themes of sin, revenge, and repentance.
4- “1984” by George Orwell
“Big Brother is Watching You.” (Part 1, Chapter 1)
Big Brother represents the authorities and the government control extending over the citizens in Orwells society. The symbol of Big Brother provides the feeling of the eye that is always watching the citizens, thus creating fear and compliance. This is another symbol that is related to themes of oppression and loss of the subject’s freedom.
5- “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (Chapter 10)
The novel’s major symbol of innocence and harmlessness symbolizes the Mockingbird. Tom Robinson and Boo Radley can be considered as innocent symbols of the mockingbirds in the novel, because they are being harmed by the society for no reason. The symbol emphasizes the themes that are related to race discrimination and the loss of childhood.
6- “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger
“I put on this hat that I’d bought in New York that morning. It was this red hunting hat, with one of those very, very long peaks.” (Chapter 3)
The red hunting hat that Holden is always seen wearing throughout the novel represents Holden’s sense of individualism and his need to be shielded from the phony world. The hat symbolises Holden’s individualism and his capacity to protect himself from the society that he finds to be insincere and invasive. It also symbolizes his conflict with the issue of identity and his wish to remain innocent.
7- “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison
“The briefcase was full of papers, including my high-school diploma.” (Chapter 1)
The briefcase in “Invisible Man” represents the main hero and its problems which he carried. In the course of the novel, the briefcase contains different papers that are associated with the different phases of the protagonist’s life and identity. It represents the protagonist’s desire to search for his identity and the pressure that comes with it.
8- “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson
“Because I could not stop for Death— He kindly stopped for me— The Carriage held but just Ourselves— And Immortality.”
The carriage ride can be understood as a transition towards the other side of the life and death in this poem. Here Death is depicted as a gentle suiter and thus dying appears to be not so daunting and rather a part of life’s natural course. The carriage is associated with the transition between life and death and the perpetuity of life.
9- “The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe
“And the revel went whirlingly on, until at length there commenced the sounding of midnight upon the great clock of the ebony hall.”
The black clock in the story of Poe represents the time and the death that is inescapable. Its ominous bells bring death to the minds of the dancers, though they are trying to forget about the Red Death and hide in the prince’s abbey. The clock is still ticking throughout the story and thus points to the main themes of the story i.e. time, death, and the impossibility of evading one’s destiny.
Symbolism is one of the most effective strategies that can be used by the writer to try and pass a particular message or theme to the reader. Thus, through the incorporation of symbolism, it is possible to enhance the plot and make the readers think on a higher level. Symbolism helps to appreciate literature and gives a better perception of the themes and messages that define society.
