Symbolism in Literature In literature, symbolism is used to provide meaning to the writing beyond what is actually being described. The plot and action that take place in a story can be thought of as one level, while the symbolism of certain things in the writing acts on another level to enhance the story. It is a product of the culture of the day and reveals the culture in return. Symbolism can take place by having the theme of a story represented on a physical level. A simple example might be the occurrence of a storm at a critical point, when there are conflicts or high emotions. The storm might symbolize these. Similarly a transition from day to night, or spring to winter, could symbolize a move from goodness to evil, or hope to despair. A river in a scene could represent the flow of life, from birth to death. Flowers can symbolize youth or beauty. Take The Loons as an example, it is just a typical novel with symbolism from beginning till the end, with “the loons” throughout as a symbol of Piquette. Through the parallel of loons and Piquette, it is easy to find their common inability to change themselves and their environment——loons are unable to adapt to modern human invasion; Piquette is unable to escape the cultural stereotypes imposed on her. The novel reflects the ecological and ethical crises between man and nature and among humans for conquest and criticizes the power ideology embodied in the crises. Vanessa casually describes Piquette’s tuberculosis and is embarrassed by her. She ignores Piquette rather than recognizing her as a human being. At the conclusion of the story, Laurence suggests that Vanessa and the white culture she represents will continue to destroy Métis culture until all that remains is a distant memory, like the unforgettable cry of the vanishing loons. In this story, it seems that that summer sees the conflict between the two girls. Actually, the conflicts are between Piquette( the mirror of ethnic people) and the whole society, as well as between the loon and the nature( the symbol of the fast changing modern world). These two conflicts buried in the plots are the real conflicts in the novel. By using symbolism, the cultural marginalized races' struggle and their cultural loss in this struggle darkly show the tragic life of those marginalized people in cultural conflicts and assimilation. Margaret Laurence showcases the contrary themes of paralysis and freedom through the clever use of symbolism in this story. More specifically, it demonstrates how paralysis is symbolized by the life circumstances of the character Piquette, which includes her family, her health and the shack she inhabits, while freedom is symbolized by the loons. In the face of modernization, it is inevitable for a minority culture to be assimilated. The Indians were known to the world because of their harmonious relationship with the nature. Piquette is metaphorically referred as the loons who were forced to change their lifestyle or die out. The beautiful singings of the loons will only remain in our mind just as the culture of the Indians will one day be known to the world through museums. The author left a question to the readers---What drove away the loons? In other words, what we can do to prevent the minority cultures from fading away. The dying out of Indian culture remains as a tragedy. To prevent this tragedy from happening again, the only option is to break the stereotype that is tagged on the minority and to coexist with respect rather than drive out the minorities. We can also see perfect use of symbolism in another novel——No Signposts in the Sea. This novel is a meditation on life, love, what motivates human beings and contains real insight into the ideas of nature vs progress, the limitations of materialism, etc. The protagonist loves the carefree life on the sea while he cannot forget the material world ashore. The author makes the novel rich in content and abundant of charm, with not only application of many stream-of-consciousness techniques, but also descriptions of seaview images which construct a kind of flowing aesthetic implication. The “Signposts” in the title is the central imagery with profound meanings. The ship is sailing in the boundless sea, which is representation of freedom. The man repeats “There are no signposts in the sea” again and again with emotion. The sea is just like the nature. The journey on the sea becomes unconstraint with the absence of signposts. This symbolism demonstrates the character’s desire to return to the nature. Moreover, the description of the natural scenery and mental activities contributes to the aesthetic feeling of its content. The bland night sky becomes romantic in the author’s works. “The young moon lies on her back tonight as is her habit in the tropics,” “Not a star but might not shoot down and accept the invitation to become her lover.” The “moon” here symbols Laura for sure while the stars around the moon symbol his unattainable love for Laura. When the ship passes by islands, he sees lonely island one by one, isolated and mysterious. “I cannot tell why it should give me such a queer sensation to reflect that that island has always been there and will be there still.” No matter it is an island or a huge stone, it symbols broad and lasting nature. Human beings are such small compared to it that the protagonist begins to hold in awe and veneration to nature. The symbolism in this novel helps readers to share the curiosity, joy, contradiction and sorrow of the character. Thus, it is not difficult to experience the man’s feeling of being an integral part of nature. There being no signpost also represents his aimless love towards Laura since he is confused. In another way, signposts symbolize goals which frame people’s lives, thus making the sea without signposts full of freedom and imagination. Symbolism is used in literature to allow authors to be objective while still expressing his/her views. Symbols in literature are usually objects used to represent or suggest important concepts that inform and expand our appreciation of the work. Moby-Dick, for example, offers some of the most widely known symbols in American literature. Being widely known, however, does not imply that the symbols are simple or easy to understand. Like the themes in the novel, the symbols are ambiguous in enriching ways. Father Mapple's pulpit in the Whaleman's Chapel effectively represents this former harpooner's approach to his ministry. Everything about the chapel reminds a visitor of life and death at sea. Father Mapple is the captain of the ship, the congregation his crew. The pulpit itself is shaped like the prow of a ship and features a painting of a vessel battling a storm near a rocky coast, an angel of hope watching over it. Without much effort, we can see that the pulpit represents the leadership of the pastor and implies that God himself is the pilot of this ship. Mapple's "shipmates," as he refers to the congregation, often find themselves battling storms on rocky coasts — either literally, in ships, or figuratively in the rest of their lives. They need the hope and consolation of God's grace, as represented by the angel. Mapple ascends to the pulpit by climbing a rope ladder like one used to mount a ship from a boat at sea. He then pulls the rope up after him, effectively cutting off contact with worldly matters. In similar ways, the captain of a whaling ship assumes the pilot's role as he cuts off contact with land; the ship becomes a floating microcosm at sea. Melville makes effective use of contrast throughout the novel; here, it is between Mapple and Ahab. Mapple is an elderly but vigorous man of God who sees his role as leading his ship through rocky waters by gladly submitting to the will of a higher authority. Ahab is an ungodly man who doesn't mind wielding authority but resents submitting to it. He wears his defiance proudly. In this sense, the pulpit represents the proper position for a ship's captain, performing his duty in leading his congregation toward an understanding of performing God's will.

The symbolism of Queequeg's coffin changes as the novel progresses. Initially, the coffin represents Queequeg's apparently impending death and his nostalgic link to his home island. The coffin is shaped like a canoe because of the custom on Kokovoko of setting the corpse adrift in such a craft. The belief was that eventually it would float over the ocean to the sky, which connects to the sea, and ultimately to one of the islands (stars) in the sky. Queequeg saw similar canoe coffins in Nantucket, and the custom of setting the corpse adrift is widespread among sea-faring people around the world.

The coffin represents ongoing life when it becomes Queequeg's sea chest after he decides not to die. It represents hope for renewal and a practical means of saving life when it is rigged to serve as a life buoy. Finally, the coffin is a symbol of hope and even rebirth when it springs from the vortex of the sunken Pequod to provide Ishmael with a means of staying afloat until the Rachel rescues him.

Symbols in a story can be interpreted differently by different people. Some symbols stand for things that are obvious while others need a more involved explanation. The White Whale is one of the best known symbols in American literature. What it represents depends entirely on who is noticing. Herman Melville uses symbolism of the whale to express the theme of humanistic relationships with nature.

The color of the whale in Moby-Dick is a symbol that can be interpreted differently. The whiteness of the whale can have obvious meanings, such as innocence, purity, and cleanliness. However, to some people the color white can be symbolic of death, solitude, strength, power, and a god-like appearance. To Ahab, the whale is not only the beast that removed his leg, he also becomes a symbol of evil and injustice. Because the whale has removed Ahab’s leg, Melville shows that Moby-Dick is capable of great violence. However, he also shows the whale living peacefully and tranquilly at sea until he is attacked by the men(Melville 290-295). This shows the contradiction of the whiteness of the whale because Melville emphasizes that white can mean both tranquillity and good, as well as terror and evil.

Throughout Moby-Dick, the whale is given divine qualities and often compared to God. Just as many people fear God, they also fear Moby-Dick. The characters in Moby-Dick all seem to have a different outlook on the symbolism of the whale. To Captain Ahab, the whale symbolizes all that is evil in the universe, and he assumes a personal vengeance against the whale to kill it. In destroying the whale, Ahab is also destroying his own fears and evils that face him in the world. Ishmael, on the other hand, has quite a different interpretation for Moby-Dick. He sees the whale as a representation of nature in all aspects, from its beauty and wonders to the terror and fear that it can bring. Although these two opinions of the whale are quite different from one another, it is evident in both viewpoints that Moby-Dick holds a great deal of power and strength that will be difficult to overcome.

Moby-Dick is symbolic of nature. One of the most common interpretations of the whale is in its comparisons to nature. Melville depicts the whale as being graceful and peaceful in its natural habitat, much like nature in general. He shows that when an outside force interrupts the true course of nature, it can result in violence and unexpected actions of either of the two. The whale is also similar to nature in that it is bound by natural laws, but that within these laws they are capable of being powerful and immortal, at the same time being temperate and peaceful. Ahab views the whale as being similar to nature in that it is destructive. Ishmael associates the whale to nature in that they are both beautiful and wonderful. Starbuck seems to relate Moby-Dick to nature because of its ability to nourish, and he concentrates on what the whale has to offer, such as the oil and money he will obtain in killing it.

In Moby-Dick, Melville uses the symbolism of the whale to express the theme of humanistic relationships. The whiteness of the whale in the novel symbolizes that the whale can be both tranquil and evil. The symbolism of the whale can be interpreted as representing the beauty of the world, or as all that is evil and destructive in the world. In this way, Moby-Dick is similar to nature.

Another classic example of symbolism is The Old Man and the Sea, which is wellknown as one of Hemingway's masterpiece, The theme is deep, and it is a song of heroism. The words "A man can be destroyed but not defeated" has gently landed in everyone's heart. Hemingway was too good famous for his iceberg technique. He believed a good writer does not need to reveal every detail of a character or action; the one-eighth that is presented will suggest all other meaningful dimensions of the story, whereas the other seven-eighth of which is concealed beneath the surface of the water in which it floats. Thus Hemingway's language is highly symbolic and suggestive. There won't be great difficulties to understand the literary meaning of his short sentences and simple words if one takes it for granted, but a work by Hemingway demands deliberate attention. In other words, one has to keep a close eye on Hemingway's words and to read between the lines because of his highly symbolic language.

To begin with, the title of the book itself is a symbol. The old man represents the human race and the sea symbolizes nature. The whole story could be eyed as the metaphor of the struggle that takes place between human beings and the nature. But the story also indicates that nature is to some extent superior and that the humankind is not able to win this fighting. As a statement made by the old man goes, "It is good that we do not have to try to kill the sun and the moon or the stars. It is enough to live on the sea and kill our true brothers." Santiago knows that mankind is always inferior; he admits he is happy that he does not have to try and kill the moon or the stars because he knows they are much stronger and that he would always be defeated in a fight against them.

The old man, Santiago, is a very old and poor fisherman. But after reading the novel, after reading the stories about he playing the hand game with a great black man who regarded as the strongest man on the docks, and the fight between he and that large marlin, the struggle with the sharks, readers know he is a very tough and powerful man with great determination, courage and confidence. It is easy to find his optimism, confidence, wisdom, perseverance and bravery anywhere in the book.

The boy Manolin in the story took the beautiful and bright days back for the old man. Starting from five，the child learning to fish on board from the old man . Although the child is young, but he is not childish. He learn from the man not only the ability of catching fish, but also the spirit of self-esteem and the understanding of the hardships of life and man's responsibility. Hemingway revealed his sympathy to the weak, the contempt for the rich, and the dissatisfaction of the gap between rich and poor, so he let the child return to the old man when he feel lonely and hopeless after the failure. Manolin symbolizes the disciples of Jesus. The ones who would follow him to his death and then go out and preach his ways. He is like a rising sun giving the unlimited hope to the people. The old man would finally be defeated by the time, but his spirit can be multiplied and passed.

The marlin represented many different things. For example, it symbolizes strength and durability by putting up such a struggle. By doing this it also makes Santiago a legend among the other fishermen. The marlin could also represent the great struggle people all go through. Accomplishing or obtaining something does not always end one's journey. Once Santiago hooks the fish he still has to bring it home. Magnificent and glorious, the marlin symbolizes the ideal opponent. In a world in which "everything kills everything else in some way," Santiago feels genuinely lucky to find himself matched against a creature that brings out the best in him: his strength and courage, his love and respect.

All of the other fisherman in the story are the people that want the newest equipment and want to do away with the old ways of living. They like the people that had to choose between setting Jesus free or a murder free and they chose the murder because they did not understand him and his ways which frightened the crowd. The fishers represent anyone who would rather think about themselves rather than others. In ways the fishers are like the sharks wanting to take things away from Santiago while Santiago is much like the marlin.

The lions in Santiago's dreams represent his lost youth and his decreasing strength. For instance, when he needs strength on his long and strenuous voyage he thinks of his dreams of the lions, and of them playing on the beach without a care in the world. With this in his mind, it seems to make him stronger and gives him the endurance to continue. The lions could also symbolize pride. Like the lions, Santiago has pride. He is proud of his fishing skills. He is able to keep his lines straight and at varying levels to improve his catch of fish. He is better at this than the younger, richer, generation.

The novel is rich in symbolism that enhances both the plot and the Themes. All of the symbols employed by Hemingway add to the basic theme that life is an endless struggle with illusory rewards. In order to gain nobility in life, a person must show bravery, confidence, courage, patience, optimism, and intelligence during the struggle. Then, even if the prize is lost, the person has won the battle, proving himself capable of retaining grace under pressure, the ultimate test of mankind.

In literatures, writers often use symbolism to assist the readers understanding of the massage he or she is trying to portray. And it is just because of symbolism that readers can have a better opportunity to taste the beauty of literature.

Bibliography: http://www.worsleyschool.net/socialarts/ 张汉熙. 高级英语(修订本)第一册[M].北京：外语教学与研究出版社，1995
Herman Melville, Moby-Dick
Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea