typically an object, but sometimes an
event, person, or place that
represents a prevailing idea; a
concrete figure that stands for an
abstraction.
...But there was one person in the village unappalled by the awe with which the black veil
had impressed all beside herself. When the deputies returned without an explanation, or
even venturing to demand one, she, with the calm energy of her character, determined to
chase away the strange cloud that appeared to be settling round Mr. Hooper, every
moment more darkly than before. As his plighted wife, it should be her privilege to know
what the black veil concealed. At the minister's first visit, therefore, she entered upon the
subject with a direct simplicity, which made the task easier both for him and her. After he
had seated himself, she fixed her eyes steadfastly upon the veil, but could discern nothing
of the dreadful gloom that had so overawed the multitude: it was but a double fold of
crape, hanging down from his forehead to his mouth, and slightly stirring with his
breath.
``No,'' said she aloud, and smiling, ``there is nothing terrible in this piece of crape,
except that it hides a face which I am always glad to look upon. Come, good sir, let the sun
shine from behind the cloud. First lay-aside your black veil: then tell me why you put it
on.'' from "The Minister's Black Veil," by
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here.
Des. ....Let me but bind it hard, within this hour It will be well.
Oth. Your napkin is too little;
(He puts the handkerchief from him, and she drops it.)
Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you.
(Exeunt Oth.and Des.)
Emil. I am glad I have found this napkin;
This was her first remembrance from the Moor;
My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Woo'd me to steal it; but she so loves the token, -
For he conjured her she should ever keep it, -
That she reserves it evermore about her
To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out
And give it Iago
Othello, Act III, Scene 3
Oth. Lend me thy handkerchief.
Des. Here, my lord.
Oth. That which I gave you.
Des. I have it not about me.
Oth. Not?
Des. No, indeed, my lord.
Oth. That is a fault.
That handkerchief
Did an Egyptian to my mother give;
... if she lost it
Or made a gift of it. my father's eye
Should hold her loathed; ...she dying, gave it me
And bid me, when my fate would have me wive,
To give it her. I did so; and take heed on `t;
... To lose it or give't away were such perdition
As nothing else could match.
Des. It is not lost, but what an if it were?
Oth. How!
Des. I say it is not lost.
Oth. Fetch't, let me see't.
Des. Why, so I can, sir, but I will not now,
... Pray you, let Cassio be received again.
Oth. Fetch me the handkerchief; my mind misgives.
Des. Come, come;
You'll never meet a more sufficient man.
Oth. The handkerchief!
Des. A man that all his time ......
Oth. The handkerchief!
Des. In sooth, you are to blame.
Oth. Away! [exit]
Act III, Scene 4, Othello
Carrie
"There's never an end to dust
and dusting," my aunt would say
as her rag, like a thunderhead,
scudded across the yellow oak
of her little house. There she lived
seventy years with a ball
of compulsion closed in her fist,
and an elbow that creaked and popped
like a branch in a storm. Now dust
is her hands and dust her heart.
There's never an end to it.
from Sure Signs, Ted Kooser
Granted, writers are not so tendentious as to intentionally/consciously build
symbols into a work. But if you wanted to try your hand (or rain) at creating a
symbol, start with one item and make it appear early in the story.
Then, bring the item back a few lines, paragraphs, or pages later, in variation. Tony
Morrison does this, for example, in Tar Baby, with eggs. A woman is collecting eggs
in an early chapter; the central characters have omelets later on, and still later,
eggs appear in another form.
Of course, you must be subtle about it, as if it fits in naturally with the events,
dialogue, and action. Unless, that is, you are making the sybol the focus of the
work--as Hawthorne does with the minister's veil.
Color symbolism is fun to try, as well. Go out into your town or city and take notes
on one decided color, finding all the things of that color and of shades of that color.
Then, sneak them into your writing...very carefully.
Global Psychics- Meaning of Colors (chart)
Symbolism of Color: Using Color for Meaning
Symbolism of Popular Culture
Symbolisms of Heraldry
Symbolism in Literature
Flower Symbolism
Symbols Encyclopedia
Symbols Dictionary
art in the RoxanneWrites HOME page for art credits section.
