Through The Tunnel

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.

In the novel “How to Read Literature like a Professor” the author, Thomas Foster, analyzed and broke down many literary techniques and reoccurring themes in literature. One of the most widely used literary techniques as shown in the novel was Symbolism. Symbolism is heavily used in literature from precipitation and weather to politics, almost everything we read in literature is a form of symbolism.

In the story “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing the main character Jerry is young and sees a group boys do something that he finds interesting, Going through the tunnel. The problem is he is too young and too weak to do it. The boys were Judging and excluding him and it made him sad. Jerry used the negative actions of the french boys as motivation to set a goal of swimming through the tunnel before he leaves. Although Jerry is not physically strong or mature he has a large amount of mental strength and uses what should be his weakness be his strength.

In Chapter 12 from HTRLLP, the author describes in detail the usage of symbolism in different types of literature. Developing the information happens

In the following stories the authors dramatize the transition to adulthood through different symbolic objects and experiences. The authors use different types of literary elements to portray different experiences and feelings to the reader. I think the authors chose to use symbolism in their stories so that they could help the reader understand the different elements that are happening within the story.

Two stories, “The Chrysanthemums,” by John Steinbeck, and Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl,” are executed by the various literary elements that are used. One in particular, is symbolism. Symbolism is when referring to an object or thing that is used in a story. The object is known as the symbol and it effectively gives the story a deeper meaning. Symbolism can potentially enhance character and theme in a story as well.

While some links between symbol and idea are quite evident (fragile masculinity) others lose their intended meaning outside of the context of the book (roses). Most of these symbols from the book are everyday objects that either remind Billy of his trauma after the fact or instantly become a way to compare and normalize his citizen and POW life. The inspiration to include this myriad of symbols was to include my unique interpretation of the most important symbols in the book. When art, written or visual, uses symbols, it is always up to the audience to interpret them. The context of the work helps a lot, but every person’s interpretation is different based on their personality and past, and that is why art is so therapeutically

Doris Lessing’s story, Through the tunnel, shows many examples of symbolic and literal meanings. When Jerry and his mother first arrived on vacation he saw the wild bay and the safe beech. The wild bay symbolizes adolescence for Jerry and the safe beech symbolizes his young childhood years. The literal meaning to the wild bay and the safe beech is basically a wild bay and a safe beech. When Jerry was at the safe beech his mother was there to watch him and help him, so it’s practically his childhood. Jerry moves into adolescence by going to the wild bay alone, without his mother to watch him. He sees the older boys and wanted their acceptance to be like them and to feel their age. He then realizes that they can hold their breath for a minute

Even though, jerry wants to be accepted and in control of his life, the harsh reality is Jerry’s identity wants to be with his mother. Further throughout the story the tunnel is shown as the symbol of the story; letting the reader know that Jerry senses that it is the door to his identity. Additionally, the chronological structure is effective throughout the story in showing the process of growing up and an insight into Jerry’s transformation. Moreover, the 3rd person omniscient narrator and formal register presents the character of Jerry and his mother in a distanced way and without a biased perspective. This suggests the sense of detachment and alienation that Jerry is starting to feel from his mother as he is growing up and wanting to make his own choices. The story is firstly introduced with a description of the mother carrying a bright striped purse. It was this and other uses of describing Jerry’s surroundings with the use of bright colours symbolising jerry’s childish world and thoughts. In addition, the thought of jerry’s childish thoughts shows his struggle to establish his own identity. The author writes that Jerry goes swimming “over a region where rocks lay like discoloured monsters under the surface”. The simile shows that even though Jerry wants to be independent and swim alone in the bay, he’s terrified of being alone in the water and not seeing his mother again. Briefly, Jerry learns that you cannot

“Yet, walking down the path with her, he blurted out, ‘I’d like to go and have a look at those rocks down there,’’ (Lessing 1). During the short story, “Through the Tunnel,” Lessing shows that Jerry has an interest in breaking away from his mother early on in the story. He shows a passion for wanting to go to the wild bay, instead of staying with his mother at the safe beach for their vacation. Jerry’s transformation from boy to a young man is revealed in the settings of the safe beach, wild bay, and the journey through the tunnel.

Symbolism is a literary technique that is used to clarify the author's intent. Sometimes it is used to great effect, while other times it only seems to muddle the meaning of a passage. In "Young Goodman Brown," Nathaniel Hawthorne uses objects and people as symbols to allegorically reveal his message to the reader.

“Through the Tunnel” In her short story, “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing, Jerry learns to be independent and responsible that often allows him to be mature. In the beginning of the story, Jerry’s mother has a very pale arm which symbolizes that she is overprotective of her son since they are always together. For example, “Her other arm, swinging loose, was very white in the sun... that white, naked arm.” (Lessing 1) which leads to Jerry figuring out he needs to be a “man” by letting go to be self-reliant.

All people must face change and growth in their life. If one does not then they do not mature and do not learn the abilities needed to cope with life. Doris Lessing shows this theme in the short story Through the Tunnel in which the main character Jerry faces his test in order to grow up. The story begins with him finally breaking away from his mother to swim in a rocky bay in contrast to their normal beach. Older foreign boys come to this bay and he watches as they find a pass through some rocks and swim through.

Sometimes risks are worth taking. Whether it is to feel proud, impress someone, or maybe become a better person, or gain something. This is what Jerry does. In “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing, Jerry takes a dangerous risk by going through this tunnel underwater near the bay. He sees some boys going through it and decides he wants to try it as well.

In the story Through the Tunnel by Doris Lessing, an 11 year old boy named Jerry went on a vacation with his widowed mother. They have a hard time giving each other range and separation causing Jerry to feel guilty at first when he goes to the bay. But Jerry decided to go to the bay and saw older boys undress and dive off a tall cliff into the water. They stayed under for a long time and Jerry got worried he later found out that there is a long tunnel under the water and they were swimming through it. It became Jerry’s goal to get through that tunnel, so everyday he would go to the bay and practice holding his breath.