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| Susan Page Davis |
Symbolism in literature has been
around almost as long as literature has. Simply put, a symbol is an object that
stands for something else, usually something intangible. For instance, newly
blooming flowers might symbolize hope. Large birds circling overhead hint at
death or evil.
Some symbols are obvious, some are
more subtle. The Bible is full of symbols. The crown symbolizes the king’s
power. The Old Testament sacrifices symbolized future redemption through
Christ.
We can use symbols effectively in
our stories too.
First let me say, you don’t have to
have symbols in your story. It’s okay. But often, we put them in without
thinking about it, as a natural part of the story. They don’t have to be
complicated. A necklace the heroine received from her mother might symbolize
the mother’s love. A snow shovel loaned to a neighbor could symbolism an offer
of friendship.
In one of my first books, Frasier Island, the main character wears
his wedding ring around his neck with his dog tags. The ring is a symbol of his
ties to the past. George and the rest of the world are in danger. When he
realizes he can save the day, he is willing to destroy the ring in order to do
that. Only then is he ready to move on.
By the way, Mary told me shameless
promotion is allowed here, so let me tell you Frasier
Island is a 99-cent e-book right now.
My new novella, The Christmas Tree
Bride, has a theme of longing, nostalgia, and realization. All of this is
symbolized by the tree itself.
In the story, Polly
Winfield’s desire for a Christmas tree stands for more than that. Since she
moved with her family to the plains of Wyoming, where suitable evergreens are
hard to come by, she has developed a homesickness, though she remains cheerful
and helpful to her parents in running the stagecoach station.
A friend in
Massachusetts sends Polly a postcard with a picture depicting a decorated
Christmas tree, which sparks her longing for one. Her family had one every year
when they lived in New England. The sight of the card reminds Polly of happy
Christmases with family. Deeper than the tree itself, she longs for the sense
of security and being loved that always surrounded the tree when she was
younger. Polly doesn’t voice this directly, but it’s evident in her
reminiscing.
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| Click to Buy for $0.99 |
Polly asks her
father to get her a tree, but he says it’s too much trouble and he doesn’t have
time. Polly’s wistfulness is contrasted with shotgun rider Billy Clyde’s lack
of memories, as his own family never had a tree at Christmas. This only makes
Polly sad. She wants everyone at the station to have the chance to enjoy
fellowship around a yule tree.
The hero, stagecoach driver Jacob
Tierney, is attracted to Polly. He agrees to look for a tree for her as his run
takes him into different terrain, where trees are more plentiful. Achieving that
goal proves difficult, and Polly’s tree almost becomes sacrificed in an
emergency, but finally it arrives at the Winfield station, a bit droopy and
bedraggled.
On Christmas Day, the happy
gathering around the tree, now resplendent in its garb of homemade ornaments
and popcorn strings, climaxes the story. The symbol and the abstract have
merged: Polly has her tree and her desire of a happy family around her and a
promising future.
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| Click to Buy ebook for $0.99 |
I’m giving away three books today.
The three winners may choose either of the e-books mentioned here (Frasier Island or The Christmas Tree Bride), or a paper copy of Frasier Island or another book in this series (Finding Marie or Inside Story).
I’m sorry, I do not have paper copies of The
Christmas Tree Bride at this time.
So…to get things rolling and be
entered in the drawing, tell me either a symbol in a story you read that worked
for you, or one that was handled in such a clunky manner it made you want to
scream. “It was a dark and stormy night,” and all that!
~~~~~~~~~~~
Susan Page Davis is the author of more
than 50 novels and novellas in the historical romance, mystery, and suspense
genres.She is the mother of six and grandmother of nine.
A Maine native, she now lives in western Kentucky with her husband Jim.
Visit her website at: www.susanpagedavis.com, where you can sign up for a free book drawing, subscribe to her newsletter, and read a short story on her Romance page, besides seeing all her books.
