Understanding Symbolism in Literature

In fiction, symbolism is what give the novel its’

realism.  As readers, we have to interpret that

symbolism as to what the author wishes to con-

vey to us.  He may want us to choose sides or;

dictate to us just how that conflict is instrumen-

tal in shedding light on the world he has created.

Furthermore, symbolism help us to under-

stand the motif of the story and why the pro-

tagonist behaves as he does.  Either option will

help us explore the symbolic meaning that the

novel conveys as a whole.

This reminds me of four novels whose symbolism

can easily sway the reader over to its’ point of

view and thus, offer their unique perspective on

life.  Those novels will be delineated in no uncer-

tain detail, and show how their symbolism can

sway us over to their rationale or way of think-

ing — way of looking at the world.

Ragtime

A cursory review of E. L. Doctorow’s novel will

enlighten us to the symbolism in that perennial

classic.  The novel is experimental fiction of first

rate because Doctorow allowed his fictional

characters to comingle with his nonfictional ones.

Thus enters Coalhouse Walker, a black musician

at the turn of the 20th century, who acquires

a Ford Model T which symbolizes his upward

mobility, but the car is destroyed by bigots of that

era.  This turns Coalhouse into a vigilante to make

sure that justice is served.

East of Eden

Anyone who has read this epic saga knows that

John Steinbeck has cast his characters into the

arena of good vs evil.  We are introduced to Adam

Trask in all of his vulnerabilities and because of

his sensibilities his father is going to show fav-

oritism to him, which caused him to contend

with his brother Charles.  This leads Charles on a

maddening course to win his father’s approval.

For example, one evening after dinner, Adam

arose from the table and said he would like to take

a walk so he excuse himself from his family and

left.  Charles immediately bolted up from his chair

at the table and said, “I’ll go with you.”  Both boys

walked off into the night together.

But it wasn’t long before Charles turned in rage

upon Adam:  He beat Adam within half of his life

and yet would have killed him had not his brother

crawled into a nearby ditch.  Then Charles fearing

the wrath of their father, deliberately threw the

axe away which he had fetch and went into town.

Light In August

In “Light in August,” we are introduced to two principal characters

whose storyline would intertwine throughout the book. Lena has walked

all the way from her Alabama roots to the town of Jefferson (Mississippi);

she does so because she desires to find the father of her illegitimate (unborn)

child and thus, to make her “A respectable” woman.  Thus enters Joe Christmas:

Faulkner creates Christian allegory in the purest sense of that term; Joe Christmas

is the embodiment of Jesus Christ, though imperfect.  The reader is led irrevocably

by how Christmas manifest the characteristics of Jesus Christ.  It is even more a

parallel of Christ’s sufferings when Christmas begins to endure similar sufferings

as the Lord’s.  Finally, the initials of Joe Christmas and Jesus Christ are the same,

which further gives credence to the character of Joe Christmas.  The lives of both these characters

would interact throughout the entire book until Lena gives birth to her new born son.

Native Son

To pick up Native Son as a beginner is to be introduced to the social mechanisms that

cause the protagonist to do what he does.  One is led irretrievably through a maze of viewing

the action of the story through Bigger Thomas’s eyes.  We see the reasons why Bigger is led to committ

the crime of murder, having become emotionally castrated while living as an exile in his own country.