Symbolism In Aura By Carlos Fuentes

Symbolism is an important aspect in stories, whether big or small. Symbolism makes the reader think. It is used to represent something but does not reveal itself right away. Symbolism adds creativity to an already creative piece. Throughout a novel a reader may spend his/her time trying to conclude what each object in a story represents. Though not all stories have symbolism, those that do possess more excitement than those that do not. In the novella Aura by Carlos Fuentes, there is an extensive use of symbolism. James Hall wrote the article “Why You Should Use Symbolism in Your Writing” on symbolism that helps to describe why Fuentes’ use of symbolism is important in Aura. Fuentes uses symbolism to hide the climax of the story and also to

The main color in the novel is green. The color green can symbolize youth, calmness, and sexuality. Aura’s eyes are a vibrant green, something that Felipe mentions on several occasions. Throughout the novel green shows up in different places. Every time Felipe looks into Aura’s green eyes he becomes calm and thinks of nothing else. When they first meet he says “you can see that those eyes are sea green and that they surge, break to foam, grow calm again, then surge again like a wave” (Fuentes 27). He describes them as the sea and waves, which bring a state of tranquility and peace. When Felipe sees Aura, she is almost always in a green dress. When they meet on the night that they have sex, she is again in green. Most of her outfits throughout the novel are green. The most significant part about the color choice is that it ironically symbolizes youth, but in the novel Aura becomes older as the story goes. The color symbolizes the youth that Senora Consuelo is losing through Aura. Green shows the reader what Felipe is not acknowledging, such as her youth being drained. At the end of the novel, Aura is in a green dress, but is then revealed to be Senora

Symbolism “acts as webbing between theme and story. Themes alone can sound preachy, and stories alone can sound shallow. Symbolism weaves the two together” (Hall). Symbolism uses the story to convey the theme. Darkness is used in the novel to show the secrecy and lies that the story has. The whole story involves secrecy among two women and a man. Without symbolism the story would just have a very dark house and two very mysterious and disturbed women. Instead there is a feel of secrecy right from the beginning. Symbolism gives the story excitement, while also providing the reader with a good read. The author can read the first few pages and determine the story is not a happy