What Does Symbolism Mean?
Symbolism is defined as the use of symbols to represent abstract ideas in the arts, literature, and films. The word “symbolism” originates from the Latin word symbolus, which means “a sign of recognition.”
Symbols can take the form of people, objects, or even actions. But the meaning associated with them is beyond their literal intent. Assigning objects like flowers to mean something is flower symbolism, and a very common example of this is the red rose. The flower is often seen as a symbol of love and romance.
Writers and poets often use symbolism in their works to make them more vivid for readers; the inclusion of the literary device adds a deeper meaning to the text.
Types of Symbolism
One can find symbolism in everyday life. Certain colors, animals, and objects also symbolize particular concepts.
- Color symbolism: A majority of colors are associated with a meaning. The color green depicts envy, white stands for purity, and yellow represents joy and friendship. One’s involvement with these colors provides a certain perception of their emotions. A person offering a yellow flower would indicate their intention of being friendly.
- Animal symbolism: Some animals are seen as symbols for specific traits. Butterfly symbolism involves considering a butterfly as a symbol of transformation; a lion is often pictured as a symbol of strength; an owl symbolizes wit and knowledge, and black cats are considered bad luck.
- Object symbolism: Some objects conceptualize certain ideas; for example, one looks at a crown as a symbol of power, balloons are a part of the celebration, and a lit pine tree automatically reminds one of Christmas. Looking at any of these objects allows one to interpret a meaning beyond its literal sense.
Symbolism in Literature
A story without any symbolism isn’t impactful and fails to connect with readers. Hence, authors use this literary device to make readers emotionally invested in their creations. In literature, symbolism conveys specific meanings. These symbols can be used as a character trait, an action during a circumstance, or an insight into what the piece of text is about.
Most of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird includes symbolism. In fact, the word “Mockingbird” in the title itself symbolizes innocence and hints that the book is about the loss of innocence. Certain characters from the book are also referred to as mockingbirds because of their acts of innocence. For example, Boo Radley is considered a mockingbird because he doesn’t harm anyone, saves children from the fire, and also gives gifts to Scouts and Jem. He is innocent and carries out acts of kindness.
An example of color symbolism in literature is seen in Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. The characters Daisy and Jordan are dressed in white at the beginning of the novel; white represents purity and innocence and provides readers with character insight. One can also see the color green being used as a symbol in the book: the lush green color of Gatsby’s car seats suggests lust, while the green lantern represents Gatsby’s dream and envy.
Shakespeare’s classic story about star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, also features many examples of symbolism. Some of them include fire, a mask, a rose, and stars, which represent passion, secrecy, love, and fate, respectively.
Symbolism in Golding’s Lord of the Flies helps readers understand the storylines through the characters’ personalities. The boys from the novel are also symbols of particular traits; for example, Piggy and Ralph symbolize civilization; Simon symbolizes goodness, whereas Jack and Roger represent savagery and evil.
Religious, romantic, and emotional symbolisms have also been a part of various literary works. Religious symbolism involves mentioning religious events or figures such as the Genesis story or the holy spirit; Romantic symbolism conveys romance through symbols, and Shakespeare’s sonnets are well-known for it. Many authors also use symbols to convey metaphysical emotions. Through these types of symbolism, authors manage to help readers get a better understanding of what their story is about.
Symbolism versus Metaphor versus Allegory
Often, metaphor and allegory are considered types of symbolism. But all three are different. A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes a person or an object as something else that shares its characteristics. It’s a direct substitution, unlike symbolism. In addition, metaphors belong in a pair, whereas symbols stand alone. Symbolism is also more complex and adds a deeper meaning to the comparison. The following sentence will clarify the difference between the two:
“Their cheeks were roses” is a metaphor; the cheeks are actually compared to roses for their similar qualities. However, the roses in the sentence “The rose lay dead on the balcony for a year” could indicate a loss of love. Here, the rose is more than its literal meaning of a flower.
An allegory is a longer narrative of a character, place, or event’s interpretation. It is deeper in meaning than a symbol or a metaphor and has a moral or religious significance. George Orwell’s Animal Farm is an allegory because the storyline of animals overthrowing the farm owner represents the Russian revolution of 1971.
The purpose of symbolism as a literary device is to enhance readers’ experience with literature. Symbolism allows readers to make their own interpretations of the text. It further evokes emotions, simplifies complex themes through imagery, and connects themes within a story, making readers understand characters better while providing a deeper meaning to the story.
