Symbolism In Under The Persimmon Tree

Flowers are an ongoing symbol in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. They are used to relate to or represent many of the characters all through the novel. The use of symbolism throughout this work of fiction is essential because it gives a deeper understanding of the characters. Mayella Ewell and the red geranium, Miss Maudie and her azaleas, Miss Dubose and her camellias, and Mayella Ewell and the violet are four major uses of symbolism in the story.

Symbols in literary works can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Symbols can appear in a novel as an event, action, or object. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, the author, Zora Neale Hurston, uses the symbols of the gate to show Janie’s transitions to womanhood, independence from oppression, and realization of what love is to Janie.

Symbols can be; images, signs, colors, sounds, shapes, anything. It is like how blue can stand for sadness, and how the sun can stand for happiness. Symbolism is an object or an idea that has a representation beyond the literal meaning of the object. The functions of symbols are to add meaning to the text and underline some subtle point the author is making, also to give the reader a clue about the mood of the story and what will happen. The symbols Lorraine Hansberry used in A Raisin in the Sun are the light, plant, and the window. All three symbols; the light, the plant, and the window, have to go together for the Youngers to reach their dream.

Symbolism is used in many ways and writers use symbolism to “enhance their writing.” It can give their work “more richness and color and can make the meaning of the work deeper.” In literary work the actions of the characters, words, action, place, or event has a deeper meaning in the context of the whole story. The reader needs to look see the little things like a dove symbolizes peace, or like the red rose stands for romance. Mostly everything can have a symbolism meaning to it. For instance the flag symbolizes freedom and the stars represent the states. Even some signs are symbols like when a beaker has a skull with a bones placed like an ‘x’ behind it symbolizes that it’s toxic or bad. When people see the red light when driving that’s

Each symbol is used to build a way of foreshadowing the journey from the once overruled society of technology and the lack of independent thought to the rebirth and reflection into a positive human-focused society. There are numerous symbols used in this novel, some tie into each other as well.

In the nineteenth century, mockingbirds were kept in cages so they could sing their beautiful music. Because of this, mockingbirds were nearly almost wiped out of parts of the East Coast. All Mockingbirds do is bring beauty to the world. Mockingbirds symbolize innocence and do not deserve to be wounded by the cruelness of the world. In the story To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Dill, Mayella Ewell, Mr. Dolphus Raymond, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are all mockingbirds. They are innocent people that have been harmed or injured in the past and have learned the misery of the world.

Nath began his love for space when his mother left. “For the first time in a month, he forgot, for a moment, about his mother. Up there—eighty-five miles high, ninety, ninety-five, the counter said—everything on earth would be invisible (Ng 133).” To Nath space was a symbol of escape. When he was thinking of space he did not have to think of the happenings on earth or deal with his mother’s absence. To Nath space was a safe haven, but to James space was a wedge between himself and Nath. At one point during the story James even yells at Nath for his discussion of space. After this incident, Nath started to keep his space thoughts to himself and would not share them. I believe that Nath became a symbol of Marilyn, and what she wanted to do when she ran away. She wanted to be in a different place and ignore all of the responsibilities that she still

In Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Anne Burns, there are various symbols throughout the story. In literature, a symbol is a physical object that represents an idea, or a feeling. The majority of the symbols in Cold Sassy Tree have to deal with love, grief, and change to their local town. Some symbols from this novel include the famous Cold Sassy Tree in their local town, the rose blanket prepared by Will’s Grandpa, and many more. The symbols in this story really help the audience understand the novel’s theme, and plot overall.

(AGG) All around the world, there has been situations like PTSD affecting people’s daily lives, as the author uses it in a book. (BS-1) Millions of people have been affected by PTSD from what they have seen and it makes things harder to not forget about the event. (BS-2) PTSD affected Najmah, because her dealing with hard losses. (BS-3) Nusrat and Najmah struggles with themselves, showing an internal conflict of Man vs Self. (TS) Throughout the book, Under The Persimmon Tree, the author uses real life situations, like PTSD, to change and shape a character’s personality.

(AGG) Losing a loved one is an immeasurable pain that many experience throughout their life, but from the darkness, something beautiful always emerges with more strength than ever before. (BS-1) The death of Nusrat’s sister, Margaret, caused a variety of different changes in her life. (BS-2) The loss of Margaret led Nusrat to discover a new way of life and find her true love, Faiz. (BS-3) Faiz’s passing causes Nusrat’s void to reopen, but is disclosed after an important realization. (TS) In Under the Persimmon Tree, one strong message is that people are shaped by those who they lose in their lives.

The stars are a significant symbol during the war for Darnell, “When I was in Korea, I’d find the Big Dipper and the Huntress and the Archer. They hung in the sky different but I could make them out same as if I was in North Carolina. There was a comfort in doing that, especially when the fighting got thick” (Rash 21). The stars not only brought the men comfort in the war, but also as they helped the breeched calf be born and when the older men’s wives died. The stars gave them a sense of peace that they would not have had without them. The stars in the war, gave them a feeling of home even when they were over five-thousand miles away. They gave them a feeling of presence from their wives when they passed away, so they did not have to feel lonely. The stars helped during the calf’s birth too, so they did not give up on the mama cow and her baby. They gave them a sense of hope that they needed. Throughout the short story, the stars continuously brought comfort to Carson and Darnell through the trouble times in their lives when they felt nothing else would be able to help

(AGG) As famous author Stephen King once said, “Symbolism exists to adorn and enrich, not to create an artificial sense of profundity”(Goodreads.com), author of Under the Persimmon Tree, Suzanne Fisher Staples, manages to use symbolism to excellently portray the changes of main character Najmah throughout the book. (BS-1)The author uses a baby goat in the first section to symbolize Najmah’s childhood identity, therefore, when the goat was taken away from her, it was like a part of herself was being taken away as well. (BS-2)After losing her childhood, the author uses a forced haircut to symbolize Najmah’s femininity being taken away as well. (BS-3) Once her childhood and femininity were taken away, Najmah felt that she lost everything. However, the author uses a second haircut, given by Nusrat, to show Najmah regaining trust, confidence in herself, and accepting comfort, thus regaining part of her old self. (TS) In Under the Persimmon Tree, the author uses symbolism to show how the main character, Najmah, loses and eventually regains her childhood, femininity, and old self throughout the book.

(AGG) Symbols are used everyday to explain hidden or subtle meanings. (BS-1) In the book Under the Persimmon Tree, the author uses symbolism to explain how the stars comfort the characters into believing that their families are still out there. (BS-2) Later in the book, she also connects the stars with the characters through fear and loss. (BS-3)

The usage of symbols containing great meaning when dwelled upon. With inclusion of trinkets and talisman, Charles Perrault develops the characters within the bluebeard tale through the deeper meaning behind the roles and symbols. In the bluebeard’s tales by Charles Perrault, the name blue beard contains great meaning. By using the words “blue” and “beard” help bring out the deeper meaning of the character as well as develop the character and helps bring out the type of character we will being viewing in the narrative.

Symbols unlock the secrets of a story. Hawthorne, in The Scarlet Letter, uses many symbols to represent different things. Some symbols represent the same thing. The letter “A” has many meanings, each character has their own meanings, and even the different parts of nature are symbols. Also, apart from providing structure for the novel, each scaffold scene conveys something different. One could say, arguably, that nearly everything in The Scarlet Letter is a symbol for something else.