Symbolism has a powerful effect on both the conscious and unconscious mind. Conspicuous symbolism engages the conscious mind making one think about the many clever connections the author has made. Symbolism of the more subtle variety can have just as much of an effect on the reader; even though the reader may miss an intentional connection made by the author, they are likely to detect it subliminally. This can have a profound impact on the readers understanding and impression of a work. In his novel The Assault, a novel about the consequences of a particular dramatic event that occurred during World War II where the main character’s house was incinerated and all of his close family killed, Harry Mulish takes advantage of this fact by his masterful use of light imagery in many forms, especially that of cigarettes to add selective emphasis to the many philosophical points discussed through the novel, as well as its antithesis, darkness, to help accentuate confusion felt by the characters within the novel.
During several scenes in the novel two characters enter a dialogue discussing two sides of a major philosophical question present in the novel. For example, in the first episode when Anton meets Truus as she is being introduced the narrator makes reference to the small amounts of light entering into the very dark cell, and generally attempts to contrast her from the pitch-black of the cell saying, “As he calmed down, he began to see a pale strip of light under the door and kept his eyes focused on it… She was not as warm as the stove upstairs, yet at the same time she was so much warmer (p 33).” The mention of light as well as warmth in contrast with the dark cold cell that this scene is set in, immediately establishes Truus, as ...
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...allude to the conflagration of the original night of the assault by way of the association cigarettes have with embers and ash. Thusly, this final mention of smoking helps the reader to connect all the information given throughout the novel about what truly happened the night of the assault.
Mulisch’s technique of using imagery to subtly make connections between several areas of the book, especially with constant references to darkness and light throughout the novel, helps make The Assault a thought provoking novel that consistently and effectively connects all its many chronological isolated events into a singular fluent book. He is able to take full advantage of the human ability to subconsciously make connections by filling his novel with recurring references and imagery. Mulisch’s prowess in this skill likely helped him reach the level of acclaim that he did.
In a well-written short story, different literary elements and terms are incorporated into the story by the author. Ernest Hemingway frequently uses various literary elements in his writing to entice the reader and enhance each piece that he writes. In Hills Like White Elephants, Hemingway uses symbols to teach the reader certain things that one may encounter during daily life. Symbolism may be defined as relating to, using, or proceeding by means of symbols (Princeton). The use of symbols in Hills Like White Elephants is utterly important to the plot line and to the fundamental meaning of the story. Through this use of symbolism, the reader can begin to reveal the hidden themes in this short story.
The prologue of a novel plays a crucial role in introducing the setting of the story. The prologue also sets the tone of the tale and can sometimes hide vital information from the reader. The art of foreshadowing is often used in the prologue, and after reading through the story, reverting back to the prologue can help connect the many themes and motifs that are prevalent throughout the narrative. A high-quality example of a prose with a prologue that is riddled with underlying foreshadowing is The Assault, by Harry Mulisch. By analyzing a single passage of the prologue and comparing it with other small potions of the text, the foretelling of events in the prologue of The Assault by Harry Mulisch can easily be related to how Anton believed the killing of his family was a simple affair, when in reality, it was a more complicated incident than
...e of the meanings to be determined by the reader, but clearly conveys the meaning behind others. Such variety provides something or someone for any reader to relate to. Symbolism, hidden or obvious, serves to connect the reader with the characters of “The Things They Carried” and follow their development with interest and ease. In many cases, symbols answer the question which the entire story is based upon, why the men carry the things they do.
Darkness has been widely utilized to describe the conditions Anton has to live in Haarlem during the first episode. Descriptive visual imagery of Haarlem shows the insight in how Anton relates to Haarlem. A cynical and condescending comparison is made regarding Haarlem, which looked “like one of those spent grey clinkers they used to take out of the stove” (Mulisch 9). Association of darkness is referenced in terms of colour and shadows shows how Anton lives within the atmosphere of darkness. Such imagery formulates the perception Anton has to view Haarlem in a negative way, as all it relates to darkness and chaos. In addition to the appearance of the city, the house in Haarlem that Anton had lived is illustrated in a negative manner displaying “mounds of unironed shirts” and “closed curtains against the cold” (9). Furthermore, Anton is not allowed to play outside and has to experience the dreadful conditions, which traps him under isolation and being limited as a child. ...
Symbolism “acts as webbing between theme and story. Themes alone can sound preachy, and stories alone can sound shallow. Symbolism weaves the two together” (Hall). Symbolism uses the story to convey the theme. Darkness is used in the novel to show the secrecy and lies that the story has. The whole story involves secrecy among two women and a man. Without symbolism the story would just have a very dark house and two very mysterious and disturbed women. Instead there is a feel of secrecy right from the beginning. Symbolism gives the story excitement, while also providing the reader with a good read. The author can read the first few pages and determine the story is not a happy
Nathaniel Hawthorne's bold novel, The Scarlet Letter, effectively employs three major symbols: light, dark, and the scarlet letter. The novel relies heavily on light and dark symbolism to represent the eternal struggle of good versus evil.
Tragedy impacts each human being differently. Some are able to forgive and forget, some become angry and seek vengeance of some sort, while others bury those feelings deep within themselves and become apathetic. In The Assault by Harry Mulisch uses careful diction, apprehensive tone, striking oxymoron, and dark irony to show that while many may have been involved in the same tragedy, their roles in the tragedy and how they handle grief from it create a different outcome for each.
imagery and connotation to create pathos and logos to strike fear into the readers, and
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
The prominent theme that was exhibited throughout the novel was inhumanity. The quote "Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky." This quotation shows how a powerful authority had all the control to carry out disturbing actions and no common ma...
Symbolism is one of the most effective and powerful elements in writing. We see various examples of this all throughout "The Things They Carried." Symbolism enables us to tell a story one way, while all along trying to say another. I believe Tim O'Brien has achieved success in doing so in "The Things They Carried."
In the passage `A Nonsmoker With a Smoker' written by Phillip Lopate, the writer discusses his hatred as well as his fascination with smoking. He tells a story about his girlfriend Helen, who was a smoker, and how her smoking bothered him not only in a distasteful manner but also in a manner of not understanding. Because he didn't smoke he didn't realize what it means to those who do. He couldn't understand why, although Helen didn't like the fact that she smoked, she couldn't quit. He couldn't understand the addiction aspect of it. He goes through many of his life experiences of smoking and tries finding understanding with in them.
Symbolism is what makes a story complete. In "The Great Gatsby" Fitzgerald cleverly uses symbolism. Virtually anything in the novel can
Through vivid yet subtle symbols, the author weaves a complex web with which to showcase the narrator's oppressive upbringing. Two literary
Vasantha speaks with a soldier he meets near a fort; the soldier comes over with a cigarette between his fingers and asks Vasantha for a lighter, from there on the cigarettes takes on the role of exhibiting the soldier’s concealed emotions. “He stared at his cigarette as though it were a slow-burning fuse” (132). Just like Vasantha, the soldier also views his cigarette as a substitute to subside his forlorn feelings. The soldier fell in love with a girl that is on the other side of the war and managed to kill her brother. He is filled with regret. Before he tells his story to Vasantha he holds the cigarette “delicately between his thumb and two fingers.” (129). This contrast of holding a deadly object in his hands “delicately” parallels how he handles his emotions. He averts his thoughts and tries to move on. He questions marriage by asking “What is it about, really?” (132). This shows his desperate need to try and convince himself that the past is meant to be forgotten. His pessimistic views are further shown as he says things like “It becomes a disaster” (133) and “How can you cross the thing that you have built to protect yourself?” (133). For the soldier the cigarettes are a way to forget the immutable past and move on, to rid his mind of unnecessary thoughts. Just like with Vasantha, the cigarettes here are used as a way to