In Gordimer's short stories, symbolism is used in multiple ways. Characters themselves can be symbols. An old, wise character might symbolize the traditional values that are being lost. And the weather can also be symbolic. A storm could signify the approaching chaos or a moment of change in a character's life. Her use of symbolism enriches the stories and gives them deeper meanings.
She uses objects as symbols. For example, a house might symbolize security or a lack thereof. In her stories, a broken fence could symbolize the breakdown of social barriers or the vulnerability of a character.
Gordimer often uses nature as a form of symbolism. A withering tree might represent the decay of a society or a character's dying hope. Also, animals can be symbols. A caged bird could stand for the oppressed people in the apartheid system.
She uses objects as symbols. For instance, a flower might represent a character's beauty or fragility. A window can symbolize a view into a different world or a character's longing for something outside their current situation.
She often uses religious symbols. For example, the cross might represent the burden of faith or the path to salvation. Animals can also be symbols. A peacock in one of her stories might symbolize pride or vanity. And old, decaying houses can symbolize the decay of the human spirit or the state of society.
You can start by choosing objects or events that have deeper meanings. Make them stand out and relate them to the themes of your story.
In his stories, O'Brien often uses objects as symbols. For example, in 'The Things They Carried', the things the soldiers carry are symbols of their fears, hopes, and identities. The heaviness of the items represents the weight of their experiences.
In 'Everyday Use', the quilts symbolize different things to different characters. For Dee, they are a symbol of a more glamorous and showy version of her heritage. She wants to hang them on the wall as if they were art pieces. But for Mama and Maggie, the quilts are symbols of family, love, and the practical side of heritage. They are meant to be used, like how their ancestors used them. The yard in the story also symbolizes the family's connection to the land and their roots. It's a simple, unpretentious place that represents the real, everyday side of their heritage, as opposed to Dee's more idealized and somewhat removed view of it.
Carter uses the symbol of the mirror. Mirrors in her novels can represent self - perception in the context of a patriarchal society. For female characters, looking into a mirror can be a moment of both self - discovery and self - objectification. It can show how they are shaped by male - centered ideals of beauty and how they can start to see themselves beyond those false ideals.
The author uses the things the soldiers carry as symbols. For example, the pebble that Henry Dobbins carries is a symbol of his connection to home and a sense of normalcy. It's something simple from his everyday life that he holds onto in the abnormal situation of war.
The snow in 'The Dead' is a powerful symbol. It represents death and the coldness that comes with it. It also symbolizes the way in which the past can cover and freeze the present. Another symbol is the piano, which can stand for the lost or fading cultural heritage of Ireland.
The rose in the title can be seen as a symbol of love or respect that was never fully given to Emily during her life. It also represents the beauty and delicacy that was missing from her harsh existence.
The watch itself is a powerful symbol. It likely represents the character's former life, a time of normalcy before the chaos of the Holocaust. It could also symbolize hope or a future that the character is holding onto. When it is in jeopardy or lost, it shows the destruction of that hope and the shattering of the connection to a better past.