Example Of Synthesis Paper - Analyze The Symbolism Essay

It is the creative genius of a literary artist that makes him or her delve deep into the psyche of the individual. There are many examples of literary works that have embarked upon the journey of exploring the intricacies of emotions and relationships through the literary device of symbolism. Symbolic representation is one of the quintessential ways of portraying an emotion or event in the boundless realm of arts and aesthetics. In the short stories, The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin, and Raymond Carver’s Popular Mechanics, the avid readers come across a number of such symbols that work to accentuate the aesthetic appeal and quintessence of expression of the two literary works by the stalwart literary artists.
Thus, a close reading of the texts can make the avid readers comprehend the various complexities of emotions on the part of the characters portrayed in the stories. The literary artists employ the symbols in the stories to increase the effect of the content on the mind of the readers of their works. The Story of an Hour delves really deep into the psyche of the female protagonist, Mrs. Mallard, when she comes to know about the untimely demise of her husband. The short story explores the innate oppressive nature of marital bonds as it goes on to portray the female protagonist as the prototypical character, and her situation being a microcosm of the emotions of the female folks dwelling in the patriarchal society. In the story, Popular Mechanics, the eminent author, Carver, goes on to use symbolism to bring out the essence of the story to the utmost degree in front of the readers. The author portrays right from the very beginning of the story how the snow melts and the water runs down the windows. The imagery is accentuated with the cars spewing slush. The ambiance outside the room is getting darker with time. Then the author pens, “But it was getting dark on the inside too.” (Carver) The darkness can thus be seen to be symbolic of the moral dilemma that the character of the story is facing.
The two stories use several symbols to bring out the intricacies of emotions of the human heart. Kate Chopin uses the symbol of heart trouble in this story. Louise’s heart trouble represents both her physical and symbolic malady. Her heart trouble is symbolic of the unhappiness in the marriage, and how she feels claustrophobic in the bondage of the societal institution of marriage. The very first thing that the audience comes to know about Louise is that’s she is afflicted by heart trouble. As the threat of heart trouble looms over the ambiance, letting her know about Brently’s untimely demise seems to be all the more threatening in the beginning of the story. It can be comprehended that a person who has such a weak heart might succumb to the shock of losing a loved one all of a sudden. However, the readers soon get to know how her new independence reflects on her heart. She experiences the very elixir of life on realizing that she is now free from the claustrophobic bondage of marriage. She is free to live her own life, devoid of any expectations on the part of anyone else. She revels in the ecstasy of being able to pursue her own dreams and desires. Her heart races and it pumps blood through the veins of her body. Chopin pens, “When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath: “free, free, free!”” (Chopin) The man and the woman in Popular Mechanics are found in the course of the short story to get engaged in a scuffle to have the baby. The author portrays this scuffle with the presence of the symbolic flowerpot that they knock over during the scuffle. However, the readers find out that the flowerpot does not contain any flower. Thus, the author endeavors to bring out the dynamics of the relationship between the two characters of the story. He employs the usage of symbolism to stir the minds of the readers of the story. As the scuffle intensifies, the author says how the infant is left to be ripped apart due to the forcefulness of the scuffle. The author chooses to shroud the violence of the two people in darkness. The author pens, “The kitchen window gave no light. In the near-dark he worked on her fisted fingers with one hand and with the other hand he gripped the screaming baby up under an arm near the shoulder.” (Carver) Here, darkness symbolizes the violence and disturbance that looms over the lives of the characters portrayed in the story.
Both the stories delve deep into the dark side of life through the symbols. The protagonist of The Story of an Hour dies at the end of the short story. She is diagnosed of heart disease. The people around came to believe that she went into a shock after finding out that her husband was not dead. They believed that Louise lost her life out of the immense joy of finding out that her husband was alive. The conclusion of the doctor regarding the reason of her demise is extremely ironic, as she met her inevitable end owing to her broken heart. She was robbed of the feeling of independence by the clutches of marital bond that had only served the purpose of occluding her way of achieving happiness. In Popular Mechanics, the darkness signifies the darkness of the lives of the characters. They stand in stark juxtaposition to the peaceful life that is expected of couples. The characters are left to fight with each other over their issues, and also the possession of their baby. The depths of hellish agony and disturbance that encompasses the existence of the two people and the infant can only be symbolized by darkness that stands in opposition to happiness and peace. While Chopin’s story shows the dichotomy of emotions in a marriage, the symbolic representation in Carver’s story shows the dark side in its entirety.
The two stories provide examples that symbolize hope and hopelessness in the domain of marriage. A major symbol that is used by Kate Chopin in the short story is that of the open window. Louise gazes from the open window locking her inside the room. This window is symbolic of the freedom and sea of opportunities that lie ahead of her after the demise of her husband. She goes on to look at the azure sky, clouds, and treetops. The songs of the birds soothe her ears as she smells an approaching rainstorm. She drowns herself in the brimming joy of freedom. Chopin writes, “She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long.” (Chopin) The open window stands for the innumerable avenues that await her in the journey of life. The window represents the bright future of Louise’s life that she envisages being free of the demands and expectations of any other person. Thus, Kate Chopin uses symbolism to bring out the effect of the story to the utmost degree. She leaves an everlasting mark in the hearts of the avid readers with her ingenious literary expressions and devices. In Popular Mechanics, the child being torn apart stands as the symbol of the end of the relationship between the man and the woman depicted in the story. Carver writes, “But he would not let go. He felt the baby slipping out of his hands and he pulled back very hard. In this manner, the issue was decided.” (Carver) The harrowing symbol leaves an everlasting mark in the minds of the readers of this story penned by Raymond Carver. The story goes on to leave the readers pondering about the violent and painful outcome that certain relationships might reach. Thus, the symbols of the two stories stand in comparison to each other. While those in Kate Chopin’s story show the audience the ray of hope, the symbols in carver’s story are outright gloomy and negative.
Thus, the two stories use the literary device of symbolic in the strongest possible forms to bring out the effect on the readers, and thus leave a mark in the history of English literature. The symbols reverberate in the minds of the avid reader, as they are left to view the world around in a different way after reading the stories. The two stories testify the fact that symbolism is one of the most powerful literary devices that enhance the aesthetic appeal of a literary work. The symbolism incorporated in the stories reiterates that the domain of creativity transcends any boundaries, and the expressions satiate the need of the literary artist to express the subtle emotions of the human mind. The various symbols in the two stories show how symbolism is the quintessential form of literary expression.

Works Cited

Carver, Raymond. Popular Mechanics.
Chopin, Kate. The Story of an Hour.