The terms symbol and imagery Essay Example for Free

The terms symbol and imagery Essay Define the terms symbol and imagery, and analyze how each of the stories uses symbols to add depth to the quality of the story. A child loves mother unconditionally and wants to spend as much time with her as possible. However, the same little one cuddles mummys sweater while she has to work at night and let her baby go to bed without her. Does it happen because the baby loves the sweater too? Obviously this is not the case. The sweater symbolizes the woman who was seen wearing it so many times, whose perfumes can still be smelled on it. Everyday objects may acquire symbolic value, which allows a unique way of expression and also effectively stimulates imagination. Similarly, a little boy enjoys stories describing wind that can he can feel on his face, singing birds that he can hear, and breathtaking views that he can see. All these are only images of his memories, but create an exciting world of almost real experiences. The more images triggering mind to bring memories of sensation of testes, touch, sights, the more authentic and vivid the story appears. Both, symbolism and imagery are tools used cleverly by William Faulkner in A rose for Emily and Shirley Jackson in The lottery; consequently, the two short stories are pieces of wonderful, deep, and moving literature. Symbols in A Rose for Emily have a deep and underlying insight to the story. Faulkner uses them to represent the intangible qualities of Miss Emily Grierson, such as her physical and emotional deterioration. The Grierson house description compliments effectively the image of Miss Emily itself. In its prime, the house appears as white, decorated with cupolas and spires and scroll balconies in the heavily lightsome style of the seventies (Faulkner 74). It can be assumed that it is build not only for function, but also to show off and to impress the other townspeople. Similarly, Emily Grierson dresses in a conspicuous manner, as all wealthy women of this time. She carried her head high enough as if she demanded more than ever the recognition of her dignity as the last Grierson (77). Both Miss Emily and her house stand out and give an impression of wealth to onlookers. As the story progresses, the physical decline the woman and the house are exposed to become clear. Just as the house is filed with dust and shadows (79), Emily ages and she had grown fat and her hair was turning gray (78). Ultimately, at the time of Miss Emilys death, the house is seen by the townspeople as an eyesore among eyesores (74), and Miss Emily is perceived as a fallen monument (78). Both are lifeless and empty. Maybe even more significant is comparison of Emilys unwillingness to change and the appearance of the Griersons house. Miss Emily refuses to obey the tax law and recalls the since departed mayor, Colonel Sartoris, who remitted her taxes (75). She does not want to pay taxes and does not accept any way of treating her different than one from her youth time. Emily believes she, as a successor of affluent family, deserves unconditional respect from the rest of the world. Likewise, just as Miss Emily held herself high, the house is presented as lifting its stubborn and coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and the gasoline pumps (74). It can be assumed the cotton wagons and the gasoline pumps are used to symbolize townspeople who were seen by Miss Emily as unimportant and purposeless. This comparison proves that Faulkners use of symbols in A rose for Emily was a extremely effective way of building the depth of the story. While reading A rose for Emily the pictures and impressions presented in the story appear easy to imagine thanks to the writers use of details. Faulkner creates a very horrifying image of death which prevalently occurs throughout the whole story. Five actual deaths discussed or mentioned in passing saturate the readers imagination with a very strong and distinct icon of this phenomenon. The plot begins with narrators recollections of Emilys funeral that happens to gather the entire community. Our whole town went to her funeral (Faulkner 74) says one of the observators. This simple statement triggers series of images that each reader stores in his/her mind: many sad faces, dark clothes, the silence, fear, and maybe even curiosity, all of them reffer to death. Moreover, the narrators description of Emily is that of a drown woman: She looked bloated, like a body long submerged in motionless water, and of that pallid hue (79). An awful sight of a body that used to be known as Miss Emily is now a photography taken by the talented author. Equally expressive are Faulkners numerous figurative portraits of Emily herself in which he frames her in doorways or windows. The chronological organization of Emilys portraits visually imprints the changes occurring throughout her life. Like an impressionist painting that changes as the viewer moves to different positions. Without the symbolism of its characters, The Lottery by Shirley Jackson would be little more than an odd tale about a stoning. Each character represents some idea and the settings of the story help to magnify those representations. The first character, Old Man Warner, is probably the most symbolic character of the story. Everything he says resembles tradition of the community he was born to. He persistently criticizes new ideas about the lottery and all the changes that have been made to its procedure. He calls a pack of crazy fools (Jackson 211) people of a neighboring village for they are considering doing away with the lottery. Old Man Warner symbolizes the old generation of people who always readily guard the good name of tradition and do not accept any changes to it. The Hutchinson Family serves as a symbol of internal faults that many humans have, such as cowardice and indifference. Bill Hutchinson is apparently so scared of saying no to authority that he will not take the necessary steps to protect his family. As a matter of fact, he is the one who forces Tessie, his wife, to admit that she has been chosen to be stoned. Bill stand by while the village people slowly kill the woman of his life, but his is not able to overcome his fear of consequences of standing out. To belong to the group is Bills major desire; therefore, he gives up his family and chooses the ritual over it. Furthermore, it seems as if cowardice affected the entire. No one has enough courage to stand up and officially refuse The Lottery ritual. Like in reality, many people only whisper hiding faces behind others backs, but so few have courage to oppose and resist the majority. The combination of settings, symbolic characters, and a surprising ending make The Lottery by Shirley Jackson a truly powerful and provoking story. Shirley Jackson paints the lottery scene using comparison of two elements: the villagers apparition and the appearance of nature. The beginning of the first paragraph informs that the morning of June 27th was clear and sunny with the fresh warmth of a full summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green (Jackson 208). Readers attention focuses on the beautiful impression of colorful flowers, juicy grass, and the warmth and peace of another summer day. Similarly, the people who came to participate in the lottery seem quite happy and careless. The children tended to gather together quietly (209). The men spend time speaking of planting and rain, tractors and taxes (209) as if they do not suspect what is going to happen next. The people and the nature look to be unified and inseparable. A rose for Emily as well as The Lottery present an effective way of use of symbol and imagery. Expanded meaning of a particular word or thing creates a new set of correlations. Faulkner, for instance, uses the Grierson house as a substitute for Miss Emilys physical characteristics. On the other hand, imagery provides a channel to readers active imagination. Jacksons choice of words act as a trigger to readers mind; the description of the nature provides enough vivid details to actually see the whole picture.