Symbolism Examples: Hidden Meanings in Literature

What is Symbolism?

Symbolism uses objects, colors, characters, or events to represent abstract ideas beyond their literal meaning. The goal isn't just description, it's adding depth and thematic resonance.

Examples:

• Green light in Gatsby (represents unreachable dreams)
• Mockingbird in Lee's novel (represents destroyed innocence)
• Scarlet "A" in Hawthorne (represents shame, then strength)

What's NOT symbolism:

• Literal description (sunset is just a sunset)
• Metaphor (direct comparison)
• Random coincidence (not every object means something)

Types of Symbolism

Understanding categories helps identify symbolic patterns.

Color Symbolism

Colors carry cultural and emotional weight:

• Red: Passion, danger, love, violence
  
• White: Purity, innocence, death (some cultures)
  
• Black: Mystery, evil, sophistication, mourning
  
• Green: Growth, envy, nature, greed
  
• Blue: Calm, sadness, trust, stability

Object Symbolism

Physical items represent abstract concepts:

• Mirror: Self reflection, truth, vanity
  
• Ring: Unity, eternity, commitment, power
  
• Clock: Time, mortality, pressure
  
• Light: Knowledge, hope, truth
  
• Darkness: Ignorance, evil, mystery

Animal Symbolism

Animals embody human qualities:

• Dove: Peace, purity, hope
  
• Snake: Deception, temptation, wisdom
  
• Lion: Courage, strength, nobility
  
• Raven: Death, mystery, prophecy
  
• Butterfly: Transformation, freedom, fleeting beauty

Setting Symbolism

Locations carry thematic weight:

• Ocean: Vastness, the unconscious, freedom
  
• Garden: Paradise, growth, temptation
  
• Wilderness: Freedom, danger, primal nature
  
• City: Civilization, corruption, alienation

How to Use Symbolism in Writing

Step 1: Start with the Theme

• What's your story really about? Identity? Loss? Hope?
• Your symbols should reinforce this central idea.

Step 2: Choose Natural Symbols

• Select objects that fit organically.
• Ocean imagery for a sailor's story.
• Mirrors for identity themes.
• Don't force unrelated symbols.

Step 3: Show, Don't Explain

• Let symbols appear naturally.
• If you write "The rose symbolized their love," you've killed it.
• Instead: "The rose wilted on the windowsill."

Step 4: Use Strategic Repetition

• Repeat symbols with variation to establish importance.
• Fitzgerald mentions the green light multiple times, each deepening its meaning.

Step 5: Allow Evolution

• Let symbols change meaning as your story progresses.
• The "A" in The Scarlet Letter shifts from shame to strength.

Step 6: Balance Subtlety

• Too obvious insults readers. Too obscure, and nobody catches it.
• Aim for the sweet spot where attentive readers feel rewarded.

Symbolism in Literature

Literary symbolism adds depth that transforms simple narratives into layered works of art. Let's examine how master authors use this device.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald:

The green light at the end of Daisy's dock symbolizes Gatsby's hopes and the elusive American Dream. The Valley of Ashes represents moral decay hidden beneath wealth's glittering surface. The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg symbolize the absence of God or moral judgment watching over society.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee:

The mockingbird symbolizes innocence destroyed by evil. As Atticus explains, mockingbirds only sing for our enjoyment and harm no one, making it sinful to kill them. Tom Robinson and Boo Radley both represent mockingbirds, innocent people destroyed by prejudice.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne:

The scarlet "A" evolves in symbolic meaning throughout the novel, representing adultery, ability, angel, and ultimately the arbitrary nature of social judgment. The forest symbolizes freedom from Puritan constraint, while the scaffold represents public shame and confession.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding:

The conch shell symbolizes civilization, order, and democratic power. As it deteriorates, so does the boys' society. The beast represents the darkness within human nature. Piggy's glasses symbolize intellect and reason's fragility.

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad:

The Congo River represents a journey into the darkness of the human soul, revealing the moral ambiguity and capacity for evil within civilized people. Darkness itself symbolizes ignorance, corruption, and the unknown depths of human nature.

Symbolism Beyond Literature

Film Symbolism

Inception (2010): The spinning top symbolizes the boundary between reality and dreams. Its continuous spin leaves viewers questioning.

The Matrix (1999): Red and blue pills symbolize choosing difficult truth versus comfortable ignorance.

Art Symbolism

Salvador Dalí's melting clocks: Symbolize time's fluidity and subjective nature.

Frida Kahlo's self portraits: Use symbolic elements (broken columns, bleeding hearts) to explore pain and identity.

Cultural Symbolism

Olympic flame: Symbolizes unity, peace, and the connection between ancient and modern games.

Flags: National symbols representing identity, values, and shared history.

Common Symbolism Mistakes

Mistake #1: Over explaining

If you tell readers what something symbolizes, the symbol dies. Trust readers to make connections.

Mistake #2: Using Clichés

Roses for love, storms for conflict, these work only with a fresh perspective. Add new dimensions or avoid them.

Mistake #3: Forcing Symbols

Symbols must function literally first. A broken clock that never appears can't symbolize time's passage.

Mistake #4: Inconsistent Meaning

Track symbolic consistency. A symbol representing hope shouldn't suddenly mean despair without reason.

Downloadable Resource

The Bottom Line

Symbolism transforms writing from surface narrative into layered communication. By understanding how objects carry deeper meaning, you'll recognize symbolic patterns in literature and craft more sophisticated work yourself.

The best symbols feel inevitable; readers can't imagine the story without them. Gatsby's green light, the mockingbird, and the scarlet "A" become inseparable from their stories' meanings.

Master symbolism, and you unlock literature's hidden language.

Want more literary techniques? Explore our complete literary devices guide with examples.