Comparing Symbols and Symbolism in Blue Hotel, Black Cat,...

Color Symbolism in Blue Hotel, Black Cat, Night, Alfred Prufrock, Red Wheelbarrow Symbolism of colors is evident in much of literature. The Blue Hotel by Stephen Crane, The Black Cat of Edgar Allan Poe, Night by William Blake, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T. S. Eliot, and The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams encompass examples of color symbolism from both the prose and the poetry of literature. When drawing from various modes of psychology, interpretations of various colors, with emphasis to dream psychology, an analysis of the colors themselves and then their applications to literature can be readily addressed. Colour is one of the areas in daily life in which symbolism is most readily†¦show more content†¦Blood is the energy coursing through the body and is related to blushing. Red also represents violent emotional arousal. Red is the color of war, the Roman god Mars, and of the greatest of the Roman gods, Jupiter. Red is the color of masculinity and activity. To the Chinese, red represents good fortune. To the Christian, it denotes Christs passion. (Fontana 66) Investigating more specifically dream psychology, red may symbolize sexuality, passion, anger, revolution or danger. Red being the color of blood, it is the symbol of life, which consequently is why Hindu and Chinese brides wear red. But, blood may also represent injury or death. (Ackroyd 253) Blue is the color of intellect, peace and contemplation. It represents water and serenity, and symbolizes the sky and infinity. To the Christian, blue is the color of the Virgin as Queen of Heaven, and denotes faith, compassion and the water used in baptism. The ancient Greeks and Romans attributed the color blue to Venus, the goddess of love. (Fontana 66) In reference to dreams, blue represents the collective unconscious. Alternatively, blue may represent the power of the conscious mind, while dark blue is associated with depression. (Ackroyd 94) Combining the power and authority of red with the sanctity and wisdom of blue, violets focus is amidst the most mystic of the colors. As a focus for meditation it can raise consciousness to higher levels. Violet also denotes