A Conversation on Symbolism
My oldest daughter is 17. She thinks her English teacher is full of it when she says there is symbolism in a book.
"Do writers really think of that stuff when they're writing? You're a writer."
"Am I?"
"Yeah. So you should know. Do they?"
"Yes."
"So you mean when you set out to write a book, you really think of symbolism? Give me a break."
"Yes, we do."
"I think English teachers just overanalyze. They have nothing better to do."
"No. Writers really do think about symbolism."
"Fine. What's some symbolism in one of your books that I've read?"
"Well, the garden in Spanish Disco represents Eden, and Maria is Aphrodite."
"WHAT?!?!"
"And Tom is the Christ figure in The Roofer."
"But Tom was an alcoholic."
"But not until after he made the ultimate sacrifice. He was the perfect boy. Think about it. He was perfect, without guile. He was a good boy. Think about it . . . go back and read it."
"Give me another example."
"You just have to pay attention in English class."
"I still think you're full of crap."
"Thanks. Now go clean your room."
So . . . thoughts? How do you weave symbolism in your work?
"Do writers really think of that stuff when they're writing? You're a writer."
"Am I?"
"Yeah. So you should know. Do they?"
"Yes."
"So you mean when you set out to write a book, you really think of symbolism? Give me a break."
"Yes, we do."
"I think English teachers just overanalyze. They have nothing better to do."
"No. Writers really do think about symbolism."
"Fine. What's some symbolism in one of your books that I've read?"
"Well, the garden in Spanish Disco represents Eden, and Maria is Aphrodite."
"WHAT?!?!"
"And Tom is the Christ figure in The Roofer."
"But Tom was an alcoholic."
"But not until after he made the ultimate sacrifice. He was the perfect boy. Think about it. He was perfect, without guile. He was a good boy. Think about it . . . go back and read it."
"Give me another example."
"You just have to pay attention in English class."
"I still think you're full of crap."
"Thanks. Now go clean your room."
So . . . thoughts? How do you weave symbolism in your work?
Labels: symbolism
posted by Erica Orloff at 11:39 AM
8 Comments:
I look for places that I can put it in while writing, and while plotting. But I usually don't get too far with it during those phases.
When I am editing I usually see a lot more of it in what I have already written and then modify/add/remove as necessary from there.
I like to think that what I write can be read on many different levels, and I try to throw some irony into the symbolism so that it may not always be straight forward.
As an addition to your conversation with your daughter... I love looking for symbolism in other writer's works. I mean, how can you not have symbolism present? It is a part of out language and history and culture. It is embedded into the language.
I had a conversation with a friend a few days ago about symbolism and stories - about how many stories, even across genre, can have the same basic story and characters and symbols. They thought everyone was ripping each other off and that no one was coming up with anything new to write about.
I spent some time talking to them about the collective unconscious, symbolism, and archetypes in our language, etc.
I wonder... is it possible to write a story that doesn't use symbolic images or characters? Is it possible to write around cultural archetypes? Can we as writers actually step outside the box of our life and write from nothing?
*shuffles off to ponder the 'big' questions...*
There's a boat load in mine, but I can't discuss it yet.
Your daughter cracks me up. Too funny.
ewoh:
I have an entire blog entry coming up tomorrow on the collective unconscious, which was "rpoven" to me by one of my kids when he was small. Yes, it's all there in all of us--our humanity lends itself to symbolism being there. And if you look at, for instance, a writer like C.S. Lewis, he even uses what is essentially Jung's collective unconcious in a way to prove God's existence--Lewis frames it all in a search for God.
Anyway, I am like you. I don't set out and think--well, these will be the symbols I use. But they're already there . . . and when i edit, I strengthen them.
E
heather:
She read this post and looked at me and said, "I still think you're making all this stuff up."
:-)
E
P.S. Whereas I am always seeing meaning in everything, she is so utterly, in-your-face practical--doesn't think like that. She is very different from me. I drive her crazy.
I think symbolism and interpretation is largely in the reader's lap. In that, there is no right or wrong, but just what they got out of the experience of reading the book.
But maybe I should be thinking of symbols more as I write! Usually, I don't notice them in my own work until later.
What I notice mostly, in my work, is that situations and people in my fiction become sorta altered symbols of situations and people in my own life. They aren't exact translations, and I hope they're hidden! Mostly, they scare me. Usually I'm thinking, holy crap, is that how I really feel?
No I don't, at least not consciously. But this is conversation I often have with writer friends. Some do, and some don't.
And I must admit to being like your daughter when studying English literature.... I mean, E M Forster and his over-arching sky.... really???
Hi Spy:
To me, there is a subconcious AND a conscious element. What the reader draws from it is up to them--my process definitely includes it though. I have to admit, I am delighted when I hear from readers who say they liked this book or that of mine and then cite some of the symbolism. I love that!
E
Hi Sara:
I don't know. I always approach books with the idea that symbolism is there . . . as for E.M. . . . alright, you got me there. LOL!
E
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