Now adays symbols define a lot of our everyday objects, for example, gender symbols or company logos. Symbolism is the use of symbols to show ideas. One book that uses symbolism is the drama based play written by Lorraine Hansberry named “Raisin in The Sun”. This book is about a poor black family in South Chicago during the 50’s called the Youngers. The Younger Family gets a $10,000 dollar insurance settlement. Unfortunately $6,500 is lost to an investment with a man named Willy Haris, over a liquor store, but $3,500 is put into a down payment purchasing a house in clybourne park. Throughout the story the author uses symbolism in 3 different ways, the windows represented opportunities, the light represented hope and the plants represented dreams. …show more content…
That in turn means symbolically has it has more opportunities for success. Naturally it shows how the amount of windows is connected to their the younger family’s opportunities. Secondly, symbolism was used throughout the book to describe light as hope. Light is shown in the old apartment to be vague, which is talked about on page 24 ”At the window, she Kaleb 2 raises the shade and a dusky Southside morning light comes in feebly”. This lack of light is representing the younger’s hope, struggling to stay alive in their environments. On the other hand the new house is described by Mama on page 94“there’s a whole lot of sunlight” which is symbolically telling us that the state of their hope has improved 10 fold because of the new house change. Lastly, symbolism is used in the book through Mama’s plant, this being the dream of her family having happiness. It’s shown when the family is struggling the plant gets tended to. For example on page 40, when Mama is talking to the rest of the family, she says”Lord,if this little old plant don’t get more sun than its been getting it ain’t never going to see spring again” this represents how the family won’t survive if something doesn't
One of the first ideas mentioned in this play, A Raisin In the Sun, is about money. The Younger's end up with no money because of Walter's obsession with it. When Walter decides not to take the extra money he is offered it helps prove Hansberry's theme. Her theme is that money can't buy happiness. This can be seen in Walter's actions throughout the play.
According to Google, symbolism in literature is defined as the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. Symbolism can be seen throughout media and in many pieces of literature including To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. In the book, the symbol of the mockingbird represents the character Boo Radley, and how his story teaches people to not always believe what others have to say about someone without being able to prove it true for themselves.
The play depicts the feelings and thoughts of the people of their time. Their feelings are different then what we see today in our lives. The family had to deal with poverty and racism. Not having enough money and always being put down because of the color of their skin held them back from having a lot of self-respect and dignity. I think that Mama was the one who had the most pride and held the family together.
A Raisin in the Sun In the book “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, there were characters whose dreams were stated, some of which were shattered by greed and misfortune and others which would eventually come true. The first dream that came about was Walter’s dream of one day owning and maintaining a liquor store. He would do anything to attempt to get his dream to come true, but his mama wanted anything but that to happen. His mama had a dream of her own, though, she dreamed of one day owning her own house, where her whole family could stay comfortably.
The civil rights movement brought enlightenment towards the abolishment of segregation laws. Although the laws are gone does segregation still exist in fact? “What happens to a dream deferred, does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?'; said, in a poem by Langston Huges. The story, A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry showed segregation and its affects upon all races. This essay will show how Assimilationists and New Negroes fought for their own identity in the mid twentieth century. Whether they were being true to themselves or creating carbon copies of oppression was determined by one’s view upon society.
A Raisin in the Sun In A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry portrays obstacles that the Younger family and other African Americans had to face and over come during the post World War 2 era. Obstacles that had to be over come by the Youngers were economical, moral, social, and racist obstacles. Lorraine Hansberry, the author of the play had to face one of these as well growing up. Born in Chicago on the south side in an all black neighborhood, Lorraine Hansberry and her family had to deal with segregation.
Symbolism is commonly used by authors that make short stories. Guin is a prime example of how much symbolism is used in short stories such as “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” and “Sur.” In both of these stories Guin uses symbolism to show hidden meanings and ideas. In “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” there is a perfect Utopian city, yet in this perfect city there is a child locked in a broom closet and it is never let out. A few people leave the city when they find out about the child, but most people stay. Furthermore, in “Sur” there is a group of girls that travel to the South Pole and reach it before anyone else, yet they leave no sign or marker at the South Pole. Guin’s stories are very farfetched and use many symbols. Both “Sur” and “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” have many symbols such as colors, characters, objects, and weather. The four types of symbols that Guin uses help the readers understand the themes in her short stories. Although her stories are farfetched, they need symbolism in them or the reader would not understand the theme; therefore the symbols make Guin’s stories much more enjoyable.
All forms of literature consist of patterns that can be discovered through critical and analytical reading, observing and comparing. Many patterns are discussed in the novel, How to Read Literature like a Professor, by Thomas C. Foster. Among these patterns, he discusses the use of symbolism and the representation something can have for a different, underlying aspect of a piece of literature. These symbols tend to have multiple meanings and endless interpretations depending on who is reading and analyzing them. No matter
In the play, A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, one of the most important themes is the American Dream. Many of the characters in this play have hopes and aspirations; they all strive towards their goals throughout the play. However, many of the characters in the play have different dreams that clash with each other. Problems seem to arise when different people’s dreams conflict with one another; such as Walter’s versus Bennie’s, George’s versus Asagai’s, and the Clybourne Park versus the Younger’s.
In almost every story, one can find symbolism throughout the text to help the reader better understand what the writer wants the reader to takeout from his/her story. Symbolism is something that must be analyzed and explored to experience a deeper meaning to the story. Sometimes, symbolism throughout a story may not be noticeable when first read, but going back to analyze the text can add a deeper meaning to words and can also help to enhance the meaning behind the story line. In some instances, symbolism can leave a reader to ponder what the writer is trying to express with the symbolism used in the story; for symbolism can be interpreted differently and can have many layers of meaning to it. Some good examples of short stories that use symbolism to extend the meaning behind the story line are “The Lottery,” “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall,” and “The Jury of Her Peers”.
In “Everyday Use” Alice Walker used symbolism throughout the story. Symbolism is an object that has a special meaning for person. For example, Puerto Rican flag have one star and the star represent one colonies of United State. It also has three stripes. The stripes represent when you United State freedom us from Spain. The Egyptians use symbols to communicate by writing. Symbols are use in math equations, shape and sets of numbers. In the equation 1+2-4=-1, the symbols - is use for subtraction or to show a negative number, and the symbol + is use for addition.
Some of the main symbols of the novel are The Hanging Wall, the colours of the clothing of the different women and the Eyes. All these symbols add different features to the story which are important. Some add fear, suspense, and overall they all add an important understanding of the story line. Margaret Atwood, was able to successfully create symbols which added depth and helped with the understanding of the novel. With these symbols she used in the novel she proved the importance and the positive effects strong symbolism can have with plot and character
When reading a story, novel, or except there are numerous literally deceives that can be spotted. These literally techniques make the reading more interesting while having a specific purpose. There can be personification, anecdote, illusion and symbolism. Symbolism is the literally technique when the author refers to an object, person, situation, or place that has a more profound significance in the story. Following this further, in the two short stories, The Pigeon and Cathedral, both authors use symbolism. In The Pigeon the main character Jonathan is confronted with an issue that would not bother most people. From this, he changes himself and learns what would make his like better. Likewise, in Cathedral the main character also reaches an epiphany when he realizes how to make his relationship with his wife more fulfilling, which will improve his life. Moreover, symbolism is used in both short stories to reach a greater interpretation of the stories.
Symbolism is one of the common techniques that authors often use when writing a book. Symbolism is the usage of symbols to identify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal meaning. Many authors use this technique to add depth and meaning to a complex idea and Arthur Conan Doyle, author of The Hound of the Baskervilles is no exception. Baskerville Hall, the hound and the moor are all examples of symbolism in the detective fiction, The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Over the past few months in class we have learned about many aspects of literature. Some examples of them are characterization, setting, style, tone, allegory, theme, and symbolism. I chose to write this essay about the symbolism aspect that is featured in so many great works of literature. Two such stories that we have read in which symbolism is demonstrated is in The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck, and The Worker in Sandalwood by Majorie Pickthall.