Symbols in Selected Stories by Fitzgerald, Faulkner and Hemingway

Abstract

The present study undertakes the analysis of diverse symbols used in three American short stories written during 1920s and early 30s by distinct writers. The present research work deals with stories "Hills like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway. "Winter Dreams" by F. Scott Fitzgerald and "A rose for Emily" by William Faulkner. All of the three writers are from America and they are all contemporary writers of the time. The symbols used in these stories are distinctly American and represent the American Dream of the time. While using the symbols they have presented the then America. The symbols are rich in suggestive meanings and they do have multiple layers of meanings too. Symbolism helps to create meanings and emotions. In another way it can be said that symbols are used as a means to express specific ideologies, social structures and represent characteristics of specific cultures. Thus symbols carry different meaning depending upon one's cultural background. The meaning of a symbol is not inherent within the symbol itself rather it is culturally learned. All of these three writers have used ample symbols in their respective stories.