Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts
Symbolism in Writing
In literature symbolism is used to present something that has a meaning beyond what is said or seen. It creates other levels of thinking and understanding. Symbols can use or help present the theme or conflict of the story. These symbols don't always have to be symbolic, and their meanings might change as the story goes. Like for example a garden can just be a garden, until you find out that the whole world has been turned into buildings. Sometimes it takes a while to understand the meaning of the symbol. However, with time and maturity, the different significances will come easier.
Symbolism - Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck used many different symbols in his novel. Some of these symbol we understand right at the beginning of the story while others we only understand at the end of the novel. These symbol create different paths to follow the story, and many of them influence the final conflicts.
Some of these Symbol are George and Lennie's farm, Lennie's puppy, Lennie's mouse, Candy's dog and the opening by the river.
George and Lennie's farm symbolizes their dream. A dream that leads us and the characters through the story. It is their motivation, a goal that prevents them from giving up on life. It is important to have in this world. A path that shows you the dreams you can only achieve with hope.
Lennie's puppy symbolizes how easily dreams can be destroyed. It symbolizes all the hope the characters had and how with just a few mistakes everything was shattered. The puppy at the beginning showed that there was maybe a possibility for the better, but with its death the symbol showed how things just ended.
Lennie's mouse symbolizes the innocence of living things. It symbolizes how even the worst things are good deep inside, and how their action can change things. The mouse symbolizes the harmless, and the ones that mean no danger. This is why it is so important in the story, it creates a connection with Lennie.
Candy's dog symbolizes aging and death. It symbolizes the passage of time and how everything becomes old. It also symbolizes the death that one day will come, either by choice or by fate. It makes us see how everything will one day have no use and that even if they did everything they could to make the world better, death would still arrive. It is just how life should be, time passes, years go by, and everything ages.
The opening by the river or the brush, symbolizes security and an escape. It symbolizes that there should always be a place where people can run to for their different reasons. In the story, the brush was a place where George could encounter Lennie if things went bad. When things actually went bad it was where both Lennie and George went, each with a different reason. Lennie went there with the hope that George would find him. George however, ran there to find his friend before others and kill him.
