"Here’s the problem with symbols: people expect them to mean something. Not just any something, but one something in particular. Exactly. Maximum. You know what? It doesn’t work like that. Oh sure, there are some symbols that work straightforwardly: a white flag mean, I give up, don’t shoot. Or it means, We come in peace. See? Even in fairly clear-cut case we can’t pin down a single meaning, although they’re pretty close. So some symbols do have a relatively limited range of meanings, but in general a symbol can’t be reduced to standing for only one thing."
Foster explains here a common misconception with symbols, people rely on the fact that a symbol always means one thing, but this is not the case. In everyday life people see what we call symbols like rainbows after it rains or a white flag (which is mentioned in the text) and assume that they can connect the meaning of those symbols to symbols in general. But symbols in literature differ greatly from what we see in everyday life. In novels or short stories authors use symbols to explain things without coming out and saying it. This is a way to allow the audience to bond with the author because they make a personal connection with the book. A symbol in writing is unique because, like suggested by Foster; it can be perceived in many different ways depending on a person.
Once again the Scarlet Letter is a great book to refer to when speaking of symbols. From as simplistic as the letter A on her chest to how her daughter’s attitude is reflective of her bad decisions making the punishment so much harder. The book is filled with religious symbols and little details that make when understood make the book so much more enjoyable.
Sometimes symbols in writing are not noticed by the reader because they cannot relate to a topic or may feel a different way. Other times when a symbol is spotted it can fluctuate from person to person because of experience or knowledge gained in everyday life.
While there are sometimes when a symbol is interpreted different ways by the reader there are also times when a symbol is interpreted different ways by the writing. Symbols can have multiple purposes and the author may be flexible to how it is interpreted. Foster stresses in this chapter (and others) while symbols play a significant role in text if readers do not catch on to these inside relations that the literature may still be enjoy or understood without it. While comprehending the main objective of the author is imperative some could read without analyzing and still appreciate the meaning of the text.
Foster tries to make a point that while outside of literature symbols can stand for one and only one thing, when reading a text the way the reader interprets something can vary. Don’t read a book to get the same out of it as everyone else, read a book to make connections that someone else has yet to make.
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