Essay Database

novel, Old Wars, by David Helwig, the author uses symbolism to represent the characters and their lives. Some examples are Margaret’s drawer, McAllister’s wooden doll, and the weather and leaves that represent Malcolm. When we first read about Malcolm Fraiser it is an “overcast November morning. (Helwig, 1989)”. This weather is a symbol of Malcolm’s life. His wife died a few years back and his only remaining family lived miles away and they …

…in order to gives us a better understanding of the characters and their lives. The leaves and the sky lets the reader see how lonely Malcolm is, the drawer helps readers realize how chaotic Margaret’s life has been, and the doll shows the reader the mistakes that McAllister has made in his life. Through symbolism the reader gets a special insight into the characters, making Old Wars even more interesting that it already is.