…or, the Doo Doo Dos and Da Da Don’ts of Connecting with Readers through Symbols - symbolism only works when readers get the symbol. Easier said than written!
That's interesting. I never thought about symbols, but I'm very aware of references that may be obscure to some readers - I try to avoid them, unless it's part of the narrative. For example, in my last PI novel, the detective buys a sculpture of an eviscerated black bird and jokes with the gallery girl: "It will be my Maltese Falcon", and she doesn't get it, which makes for a funny scene (note that he doesn't explain it to her!).
That's interesting. I never thought about symbols, but I'm very aware of references that may be obscure to some readers - I try to avoid them, unless it's part of the narrative. For example, in my last PI novel, the detective buys a sculpture of an eviscerated black bird and jokes with the gallery girl: "It will be my Maltese Falcon", and she doesn't get it, which makes for a funny scene (note that he doesn't explain it to her!).
lol - exactly! References and symbols are definitely related. I'm trying harder to ensure that both connect with the reader.
Your Maltese Falcon reference reminds me of a one-liner I like to tell in certain circles:
"No, I've never finished Moby-Dick. Someone said once that it is my white whale! I didn't know what they meant..."
That often gets blank stares, but the few laughs I get from it makes it all worth it!
Ahahah ... yep, it's an albatross of a book (confession: I couldn't finish it either!)
Ooh, I like how effortlessly you slipped into Coleridge!
Actually, I was thinking of Baudelaire:
"Exilé sur le sol au milieu des huées,
Ses ailes de géant l’empêchent de marcher."
(When exiled on the earth, the butt of hoots and jeers,
His giant wings prevent him from walking.)