Symbolism In Under The Persimmon Tree

Symbolism in literature is using an object to portray a different, deeper meaning in a story. Symbols represent ideas or qualities that the author has maneuvered into his or her story that has meaning. There can be multiple symbols in a story or just one. It is up to the reader to interpret the meaning of the symbols and their significance to the story. While reading a story, symbols may not become clear until the very end, once the climax is over, and the falling action is covered. In William Faulkner’s, “A Rose for Emily,” there are multiple examples of symbolism that occur throughout the story.

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

This metaphor of the stars goes from showing us the envy the narrator had to possibly just being her feeling left out, not necessarily a bitter feeling towards her sister. The metaphor continues by explaining that stars are corruptible, “Stars are not made of heavenly ether, but of the same corruptible elements that comprise earth” (357). This piece of the metaphor is in reference to the sister and how her beauty is waning and she isn’t treated as beautifully as she “should be” as we see the abuse she endured when she was raped, and from there she seems to cycle in and out of harmful relationships. In addition, the stars being corruptible show us the transformation of how the narrator from being childishly jealous of her sister to now her view of her sister is corrupted, she now feels bad and pities her sister. To conclude the essay the metaphor finalizes by stating, “You want to spin back light years from today, hold your sister on your lap, rock her luminous beauty in your arms until it stops hurting” (359). This metaphor brings the essay to a close and helps the reader realize that the author just cares for her sister, no longer envying her or wanting to be the star- but only wishing that all the wrongdoing she endured for being such a “luminous beauty” would dissipate.

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.

Author use many symbolism in the book The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. She uses symbolism because it makes it easier for readers to understand the deeper meaning or feeling of the character or the events that are happening. For example, author uses the symbolism of bean trees as transformation and Ismene as the abandoned children to show the deeper meaning of them.

(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.

In Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston uses symbolism to draw parallels between literal things taking place in the plot, as well as abstract concepts pertaining to society or a bigger picture. The plot and action that take place in a story can be thought of as one level, while the symbolism of certain things in the writing act on another level to enhance the story. Symbolism poses somewhat of a challenge for the reader because they must look deeper into the story and the plot to find connections between symbols and their double meanings.

In the book Under The Persimmon Tree written by Suzanne Fisher Staples, the character Najmah fled from her home village because of conflict. Staples story about what happens after that is very unrealistic. The fictional portrayal of Najmah’s journey as a refugee is very different from real life as a refugee. Staples used this to show how experiences can impact someone's character.

(SIP-A) When Najmah contemplates the demise of her older brother and father at the hands of the Taliban, she consistently loses and gains hope about them being alive, the stars discreetly coming in through these scenes. (STEWE-1) When her traveling family makes camp, she tries to sleep but instead thinks about “Nur and [her] father, and look[s] up for al-Qutb” (107). Al-Qutb is the unmoving star Najmah’s father taught her about, a star that helps her know where she is, and where to go. Immediately after wondering if her “father and brother are still alive under these same stars” (107) doubting whether or not they made it, she looks up for the unmoving star. (STEWE-2) A page later, she overhears that some deserters are fleeing to Peshawar, and begins to hope that perhaps “father and Nur have escaped from the Taliban and [she] will find them in Peshawar” (108). Before fighting off the sleep that quickly enveloped, her eyes now “fly open” (108), and she starts devising a plan. The family then moves on, using the stars and moon to guide them through the hills. (SIP-B) During these scenes, we see the stars popping in and out; in when she gains hope, and out when she loses it. (STEWE-1) When she looks up for al-Qutb, she realizes that she is “under the covers of the shawls” (107), and so flees her hope. Because this feeling is gone, the author purposefully does not

In the poem, the purpose of symbolism is using an object or reference to describe a deeper meaning to a story. The poem " Music of Spheres" by displayes that how to use symbolism to describe an object with deeper meaning. This poem is written by Jean Follain who was a French author, poet and corporate lawyer. The reason why I selected this poem, is because Jean Follain only used a few sentences to reflect its deep symbolic meaning of this poem. Language makes us human. It helps us to understand our everyday experience and ideas. It will become more powerful by using symbolism instead of the customary language. In the written world, the role of symbolism in the poem is significant. It produces the same feeling as

The book Night has symbolism all through it. One example of Symbolism is the yellow star the Jews had to wear on their sleeves, this symbolized the start of something horrible. Night has symbolism in many different forms. Some examples of symbolism I will write about is the fire, the books name Night, and Juliek’s violin.

Symbolism in literature is used to give an entirely different meaning which is more significant and much deeper to a story using objects representing other objects and giving them a sense that is different from their literal meaning. The meaning of the symbols used to depend on the reader, and there is no universal meaning for symbols used because their purpose is inherent in the symbol itself. In both stories, the authors use symbols to give different meanings to their story.

A star’s purpose is to illuminate the sky’s darkness as it serves to be the guide when