Symbolism can be simply defined as the affiliation of two things by representation or association. However, this literary device can take on many different forms. Symbolism can include similes, metaphors, allegories, and personification, to name a few. Authors use this writing technique to appeal to their audience. In fact, symbolism provides multiple levels of understanding between the characters of a story and the readers who engage in the tale. The symbol can, consequently, evoke emotion or meaning. It allows for truth to be revealed in an indirect way. Two of the most noteworthy pieces of literature that encase exceptional symbolism are The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and “A Wall of Fire Rising” by Edwidge Danticat. These stories are built on entirely different plots. However, the symbolism in the each exhibit similar messages and allows for there to be overlapping themes. The Metamorphosis involves Gregor and his physical transformation from human to beatle, as well as his mental transformation from isolation to freedom. Meanwhile, “A Wall of Fire Rising” follows the life of Guy who feels trapped by societal and mental constraints. Guy’s mental health worsens as his hope for freedom becomes increasingly unattainable. The symbolism in The Metamorphosis and “A Wall of Rising Fire” is essential in communicating shared themes of isolation, freedom and death.
Since the day each story was published, the authors of The Metamorphosis and “A Wall of Rising Fire” have received positive and negative criticism regarding the writing style and elements used. Wilson Chen is a reliable source with insightful commentary on Guy’s insatiable longing for freedom and the role that the hot air balloon plays in attaining this desire that he so desperately seeks. Chen ties his observations to the Haitian Revolution. His remarks are supportive of the pre-existing analysis of Guy’s hope to live without the oppression from his surroundings. Meanwhile, authors Rhodes and Westwood, draw a connection between Gregor’s facial capabilities once his body has transformed into a bug and the impact it has on his ability relate to others. In other words, Gregor’s inability to smile presents an obstacle when trying to form a connection with his family members. Chen and Rhodes contribute meaningful insight that brings another dimension to the stories at hand.
In The Metamorphosis, Gregor feels greatly isolated when he transforms into a “monstrous vermin” (Kafka 400). He becomes physically isolated by his family, as they become repulsed by his appearance. The author cleverly chose a beetle to embody Gregor, because it is a creature who is generally thought of as unpleasant and repulsive. Bugs are considered mindless and insignificant, because there are an abundance of them. There is irony in the fact that insects live in close proximity to humans, yet they go predominantly unnoticed. The tendency for people to reject, or rather, harm these animals foreshadows Gregor’s eventual end. Until then, Gregor is treated inhumanely by his family, especially his father. The struggle that Gregor faces with his new anatomy, especially the “many little legs, variously in motion, that he [is] unable to control” (Kafka 402), makes it difficult for him to continue his ordinary life. The beetle becomes the most significant symbol in the story, because it allows the readers to sympathise with this difficult transformation. The New Yorker published “On Translating Kafka’s The Metamorphosis” by Susan Bernofsky in 2014. This prompt presents an insightful perspective on Gregor’s newfound exoskeleton. As Bernofsky explains, the original story was written in German. Through the translation to English, The Metamorphosis lost much of its mystery regarding the “bug.” In fact, Kafka’s “language that appears in the novella itself is carefully chosen to avoid specificity” (The New Yorker). Bernofsky “think(s) Kafka wanted us to see Gregor’s new body and condition with the same hazy focus with which Gregor himself discovers them” (The New York Timer). This explanation further supports the evidence that empathy is deeply regarded. Since the audience experiences the story through Gregor’s perspective, the reader feels involved although he or she is “not actually present in the scene being described” (The New Yorker). This relationship between the character and the reader is the basis for empathy. Through the symbolic, yet literal, incorporation of a bug, Kafka successfully conveys the theme of isolation that resonates greatly with the audience.
In “A Wall of Rising Fire”, Guy’s freedom is compromised when his poverty and lack of opportunity become inescapable realities of his life. The title makes a symbolic connection between the Haitian political environment of the era and Guy’s feeling of captivity. Danticat provides the reader with ample evidence that the protagonist feels enslaved by his circumstances. He longs a life of freedom, prosperity, and success, yet he “was born in the shadow of that sugar mill” (Danticat 235). This financial struggle is a direct representation of the Haitian revolution. The rebellion successfully ended slavery among the Haitian people who had been enslaved by the French colonists for so long. The “Wall of Fire Rising” represents the emotion burning within each one of those who suffered enslavement and now remain in poverty. Guy feels as if he cannot reach beyond the metaphorical wall of fire that surrounds him. The symbolism used to describe the isolation that Guy feels is essential in creating a connection between the character and the audience. Empathy allows the reader to better understand Guy’s emotional situation. The hardships he endures are primarily internal struggles that cannot be accessed through a simple description of events but, rather, a myriad of symbolism. Danticat’s incorporation of historical events that suggest oppression allude to the theme of isolation that resonates throughout the story.
In The Metamorphosis, Danticat offers death as Gregor’s escape to freedom. Gregor dies in a physical, mental and social manner. His physical collapse is his literal “[body] becoming weaker and weaker and in the end … fad[ing] away altogether.” His mental death is caused by the relationships he has with the people around him, before and after the transformation. Pam McElprang, the author of “ Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis: Gregor’s Mental Illness and the Impact of his Depression” believes that “Gregor has isolated himself from his family in more ways than one” (McElprang). McElprang believes that Gregor enables himself to create relationships with others since he locks his bedroom doors, works long hours and fails to maintain friendships. McElprang believes that “Gregor has virtually removed himself from life to hide and be cared for in his miserable existence” (McElprang) and that his transformation is an extension of his emotional disturbance. Meanwhile, Gregor’s social death takes place when outsiders, including his family, the general manager of his business firm and the tenants who occupy the Samsa house, reject his existence. Critics Carl Rhodes and Robert Westwood, believe that Gregor’s downfall with himself and his family is deeply rooted in his facelessness. The characters inability to produce a smile causes him to have nothing to give. Gregor’s transformation causes his sense of identity and sameness to shift. His ability to unite with his family is compromised as his “face disappears and his alterity expands beyond the limits of generosity” (Rhodes 243). Gregor’s gradual demise symbolizes his freedom from his oppressive situation. Throughout the story, he struggles internally and externally. McElprang believes that his eventual death is an extension of his sorrowful life. Kafka creates a clear and undebatable connection between Gregor’s death and freedom. Death becomes the only path of escape for Gregor’s isolated existence.
In “A Wall of Rising Fire”, Danticat uses death and the hot air balloon to symbolism freedom. Guy dreams of “sitting inside the square basket while the smooth rainbow surface of the balloon itself floated above his head” (Danticat ). This visual becomes a representation of Guy’s desire and need to escape his current situation. The hot air balloon is symbolic of escape from his life of poverty, because it lifts him from servitude and insignificance. The audience, with the help of this symbol, can understand what freedom looks like for the main character. Once a connection is formed, the reader begins to feel the same emotions that Guy is imagined to experience. Brooke Wolf, a literary blogger, observes the importance of the hot air balloon in her own perspective. She describes Guy “believing that when he does get the chance to take the hot air balloon he can begin a new life” (Wolfe). Similarly, Wilson Chen, a professor at Benedictine University, makes an insightful observation regarding the representation of the hot air balloon. He believes that the balloon is more than merely a symbol of freedom for Guy but it’s depiction is deeply rooted in the Haitian Revolution. Chen shares that, “the balloon signals different kinds of flight…it alludes to migration/immigration…for impoverished Haitians to begin life anew” (Chen 39). This remark suggests that history is an undeniably powerful component to this story. Chen expands further on his statement by adding that the hot air balloon “represents the infinite promise of the mythified immigrant journey to America, then the barbed wire is a sober reminder of the many obstacles confronting Haitian immigrants as they attempt to reach the shores of the U.S” (Chen 39). The interweaving of historical events generates emotions and empathy. The hot air balloon and death are employed in tandem to represent Guy’s long-awaited freedom.
Symbolism is the ability to represent one idea with the use of another. This literary device is effective, because it evokes the reader’s interest in the story and its characters. Symbols allow for implicit layers of meaning to resonate with the reader on a thematic level. The short stories The Metamorphosis and “A Wall of Fire Rising” embody a network of symbols that act like the work’s nature. Without these insightful elements of narrative, the reader wouldn’t be able to empathize with Gregor and Guy. Although the characters experience isolation, freedom and death in different ways, the parallel events evoke empathy. Gregor’s isolation is primarily physical; meanwhile, Guy struggles with mental confinement. The characters’ eventual death is symbolic of their freedom from their struggles. Thanks to the symbolism in The Metamorphosis and “A Wall of Rising Fire”, readers are able to fully engage, understand and capture the essence of the short stories.