Drama: Joe Turners Come and Gone

674 Words2 Pages

Drama: Joe Turner's Come and Gone In the play Joe Turner's Come and Gone, by August Wilson, symbolism plays a very important part in conveying the true meaning of the story to the reader. August Wilson uses symbolism to suggest an intangible condition or truth about the characters in Joe Turner's Come and Gone, and as the story progresses each symbol accrues complexity beyond the original meaning. August Wilson's complex use of symbolism is grossly demonstrated through Mr. Wilson's use of the road, Martha Pentecost, and Herald Loomis. Some of the first and most significant references to the road are discussed very early in the play. The character Bynum Walker is telling the story of the shiny man, and the secret of life to Rutherford Selig when Bynum makes several significant references to the road. Bynum says, "I wandered around there looking for that road, trying to find my way back from this big place...and I looked over and seen my daddy standing there", and it is at this point that the reader has a significant sense that the road is much more than just a road. As the story progresses Bynum Walker is asking Herald Loomis where he comes from, and Herald says, "Come from all over. Whicheverway the road take us that's the way we go." It is at this point that August Wilson's road becomes much more than just a literal road, and with this in mind the reader begins to see the road as the path that ones life takes. There are other references to the road throughout the play that help develop the fact that the road is the path that all people must take in life to self-discovery. August Wilson continues the play with strong symbolism use in his characters names. For example, Martha Pentecost is the wife of Herald Loo... ... middle of paper ... ...Herald goes on to say, "Goodbye Martha." The character of Herald Loomis then turns to exit, and is followed by Mattie Campbell. August Wilson has used symbolism throughout Joe Turner's Come and Gone to help the reader fully experience the complexities of the human spirit in times of trial and tribulation. Wilson uses the road to help us understand how man's path through life is not always clearly defined, and that each individual must struggle with the path that lay ahead. Wilson also demonstrates that not all individuals follow one path in life. That when one comes to the end of one road a rebirth may be necessary to continue down another road, such as Martha Pentecost and Herald Loomis had to discover. Wilson also shows the reader that acceptance of the death of an old life can lead to illumination, rebirth, and the possibility of love in ones new life.

Open Document