Symbolism - The expression of Ideas in your writing

I've been asked many times to explain what it means to insert symbolism into a storyline. So here are my two cents on the symbolism in writing. The answer is simple, it's when you take a real-world object and insert it into a storyline making it represent the abstract idea within your mind. In other words, you take your ideas and use objects to communicate the literal meaning of the concept at hand. For example, water symbolizes the rebirth of an idea or a person. Picture this a beautiful woman elegantly dressed walking out of a lake onto the dry sandy beach and sitting down on a downed tree trunk that was washed up on shore. She lays down, tired from swimming to shore, and falls asleep. The symbolism here is not only rebirth (the water) but also how much work a woman does to survive and the struggles she faces and she needs a break from it all in order to rest. The imagery is powerful and the scene takes on a greater meaning because it opens the door to the trauma a woman endures on a daily basis in trying to survive the battles of living. 

Don't forget to not just throw symbolism into a storyline without making sure it is connected and flows with that storyline. Don't just throw in a woman coming out of the water if the storyline is about a romantic comedy because there shouldn't be a rebirth from trauma in such a storyline, or trying to show light coming out of the darkness when in fact the storyline is a historic medieval story about King Henry VIII and he's just discovered Anne Bolyn. So you have to understand your theme before you can attempt to tackle the symbolism within your story to express it.

When writing a novel you need to write the symbolism out without saying it in a few words. For example, how about in your storyline you flashback to a history test or a science test for your character and they are fidgeting with their pencil, looking out the window, at the teacher and then at the classroom clock then back down at their test. What does that tell you about how the character is feeling in that moment. Pure anxiety! Your objective in this part of the story is to show that your character had overcome their bouts of nervousness and anxiety from a young age but in the circumstances in the present moment, their want to ask the one they love to marry them, those old feelings are coming back to cause trauma in their life. They're doing their best to combat those old anxiety attacks and not allow them to control their new life with the one they love.  Are you understanding now? Hope so. If not go read the classics and you should begin to understand. 

The classics, especially Shakespeare are full of symbolism from Lady Macbeth trying to wash off invisible blood from her hands which is really the guilt she feels about the death of another based on her testimony before the King that put the man to death. In Lord of the Flies, the boys having remained on the island for so long were turning into primitive creatures, in other words, psychotic individuals. 

Here's hoping that you are able to understand how symbolism helps to express your ideas in your writing. Reach out if you need more visuals of symbolism, or better yet start reading the classics or watching Hitchcock films for the visuals of symbolism to appear to your creative mind and spark something in you to help create your own in your stories. Happy writing. 

Author Elizabeth Kilbride is a former political operative, author, scriptwriter, historian, and journalist. business professional, creative artist, and life coach consultant. Ms. Kilbride holds a Master's in Criminology and a BS in Business Management she stepped out of the loop for a while but is now back with a powerful opinion and voice in the direction of this country and our economy. As a life coach, she is available to counsel individuals to enjoy their dreams and a better life. Ms. Kilbride loves to travel, and photograph her surroundings and is also a gourmet cook who loves to garden and preserve food for the winter months.