Symbol

A symbol is a visual representation of something to the audience. Symbols can range from objects to souls. For example, in The Great Gatsby, the billboard with the eyes on it, above the Valley of Ashes, symbolizes that everybody is being watched. This reference reoccurs throughout the novel and ultimately alludes to a key message. Another example of a symbol is Hamlet's ghost in Hamlet. Hamlet's ghost represents pride, love, loyalty, and revenge. Symbols usually delicately appear at the beginning of a work and then prove their importance in a much more obvious way farther into the work. Overall, symbols are essential to the plot.