IOPersonal Thoughts

During the internal oral presentations, I learned a many number of things, but the main focus of what I learned was the multiple number of ways symbolism can effect a novel or a graphic novel.  From my own presentation, and several other people’s presentations, I learned that symbolism played a large role in the Great Gatsby through many different ways.  Firstly, the colors used by Fitzgerald symbolized not only multiple if not all characters’ emotions, they also showed foreshadowing towards later major plot events.  Another way Fitzgerald used symbolism was through frequently mentioned objects in the novel.  For example, he used the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock to symbolize Gatsby’s hope and desire for a future with Daisy.  Also, through the clock Gatsby knocks over at Nick’s house can symbolize how time had stopped for Gatsby when he met Daisy and how time had slowed down in Nick’s eyes as he got to know the other characters seen in the book such as Daisy, Tom, Myrtle, Gatsby, and Jordan.  Finally, weather was used by Fitzgerald in the Great Gatsby to symbolize something of greater meaning.  The weather throughout the novel changed along with character emotions and certain events.  One example of this is that it is raining not only when Myrtle is ran over, but also when Gatsby’s funeral takes place.  Fitzgerald uses the weather to portray different emotions of the characters at that particular time in the novel. 

In both Maus and Siddhartha, animals are used as symbolization in order to further plot and character development.  In Maus, Spiegelman not only uses animals to make to book more accessible to younger ages but to show characters of certain nations’ personalities through the attributes associated with specific animals.  For example, he uses mice to portray the Jewish because mice represent vermin and that’s what the Germans considered the Jews to be.  Spiegelman also used dogs to represent Americans this is symbolic because it shows that the Americans were seen as loyal protectors.  In Siddhartha, Hesse uses animals to further the plot line and foreshadow upcoming events.  He uses the black snake that bites Kamala no only to symbolize her untimely death, but also to show her peaceful ending as she reaches enlightenment.  His use of carp in the novel symbolizes reaching enlightenment, and Hesse’s use of starks represent Siddhartha leaving home and the inner balance it takes one to become enlightened.  Overall, I learned many things throughout the IOP’s, and from each one, I take new knowledge to apply to the next novel I read in this class.