History Main / RuleOfSymbolism

* In ''BreakingBad'', the [[spoiler:plane crash]] at the end of Season 2 and [[spoiler:Gus' death and last moments of life]] at the end of season 4 are somewhat out of place in an otherwise subtle and highly realistic show, but the symbolic point they make, especially of the former, are very important to the series.

* The film version of ''Film/BeingThere'' ends with ChanceTheGardener walking on water.

** They also pull the "fate's intervention" bit, although some fans argue that the scene in question is an as-yet-unfired ChekhovsGun.

* The book of Revelation/The Apocalypse of St. John in ''Literature/TheBible'' is arguably the best example in all of Western civilization. It had to be; it was primarily an indictment against Rome, and wouldn't have made it past the Roman censors had its author(s) not hidden their message under a heap of symbolic language. ("The seven heads are seven hills.")

* Arguably there were a few instances in Jez Butterworth's play ''Jerusalem'' which stretched the audience's WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief but had symbolism instead. For example, when Johnny ("Rooster") [[spoiler:beats the bongo drum heavily in the last scene to "summon giants", after a few moments, the audience then hears three loud stomps in a similar style to footsteps, then on the last stomp the stage blacks out instantly, ending the play. It's unlikely there were actually giants in context to the rest of the play, so it can be interpreted more easily as a metaphor (which carries symbolism) rather than a literal event.]]

* ''BlackSwan'' would also invoke this trope.

* Mila Kunis's character Lily in ''Film/BlackSwan'' wears her hair out during ballet training and doesn't bother to do any warm-ups. It's to demonstate her free-spirited nature, even though no ballet studio on Earth would let her get away with either of those things.

* A very subtle, but disturbing one featured in Literature/{{Worm}}. After the [[VillainWithGoodPublicity 'heroes']] [[spoiler: out Taylor's civilian identity]]. When [[spoiler: Taylor surrenders]] a ring of soldiers gathers around her, screaming contradictory commands and waving weapons. They start getting physical just before Clockblocker steps in.
-->[[spoiler: Taylor]]:“Do you need me to take a different position?” I asked.
-->Clockblocker: “Once upon a time, I would have had something clever to say in response to that,” he said, quiet.
** To spell it out: a young teenage girl assaulted by a ring of thugs, saved by a superhero. The disturbing aspect is what [[spoiler: Taylor]] says, drawing parallels to gang rape, and implying that Clockblocker might join in. Given how she's been treated by the Wards and Protectorate in the past, the implication is not lost on Clockblocker (who had only recently discovered the truth surrounding her [[HeroWithBadPublicity past actions]] himself).

* A very subtle, but disturbing one featured in {{Literature/Worm}}. After the [[VillainWithGoodPublicity 'heroes']] [[spoiler: out Taylor's civilian identity]]. When [[spoiler: Taylor surrenders]] a ring of soldiers gathers around her, screaming contradictory commands and waving weapons. They start getting physical just before Clockblocker steps in.

* A very subtle, but disturbing one featured in [[Literature/Worm]]. After the [[VillainWithGoodPublicity 'heroes']] [[spoiler: out Taylor's civilian identity]]. When [[spoiler: Taylor surrenders]] a ring of soldiers gathers around her, screaming contradictory commands and waving weapons. They start getting physical just before Clockblocker steps in.

* ''MageTheAwakening'' has a lot of this, mostly because it internally posits magic that works according to symbolic principles. Most monsters and phenomena, several organizational principles, and the [[EldritchLocation Supernal Realms]] operate according to symbolic logic. There's even a {{Sourcebook}} filled with plot hooks referencing TarotMotifs (such as a man who overcame his addictions and became a stable, fulfilled and productive family man and community paragon who makes a metal sculpture of a T-Rex that can come to life and will serve whoever defeats it, representing Strength).

So ''why'' would anyone put a candle about to go out, a skull, a withering flower, a watch, a cracked nut, and a letter[[hottip:*:reflecting that life is short and art is long]] on a table together?-] ]]

** The [[BattleAmongstTheFlames final battle]] between Anakin Skywalker [[hottip:*:Technically it was between ''Darth Vader'' and Obi-Wan Kenobi, but The Vade isn't truly transformed until he dons the suit]] and Obi-Wan Kenobi in ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' takes place [[ConvectionSchmonvection within an active volcanic caldera]] of [[FireAndBrimstoneHell Mustafar]], much to the [[ArtisticLicensePhysics chagrin of the scientifically adept]]. According [[WordOfGod to Lucas]], the setting was meant to remind us of [[Literature/ParadiseLost something else]].

* In the first ''HarryPotter'' book, Harry [[spoiler:is trapped by [[TheDragon Professor Quirrel]], but Quirrel is unable to kill Harry because [[ThePowerOfLove the love from Harry's mother, who sacrificed herself to save him]] had a lasting effect on him that prevented a loveless, heartless person like Quirrel from being able to touch him.]] Normally, this could be seen as a flawed DeusExMachina ending, but the symbolism of Lily Potter's love, and the moral message that it brings to readers, makes this more than acceptable. It helps that it's not simply dropped, and remains a major plot element throughout the series. In fact, we later find out that [[spoiler:there are are at least ''six'' different factors involved that had never been combined before.]]

** You're slightly off the mark. That room with the deceased man in front of the television isn't meant to be taken as a suicide, especially given the SuspiciouslySpecificDenial in the conversation that follows. Given [[spoiler:Eddie]]'s downward spiral into sociopathy as he murders more and more people — and the only human corpses you find are in his wake, it becomes increasingly apparent that [[spoiler:Eddie murdered that man and is vomiting in the toilet due to his initial, short-lasting revulsion at his own actions]]. The character model is James' simply because — and they've admitted this — they got lazy and didn't think anyone would notice.

* A lot of the criticism leveled at the new ''[[Series/BattlestarGalacticaReimagined Battlestar Galactica]]'' came from the tendency of the writers to draw thematic and symbolic parallels to real-world events, even when it didn't make sense for the world of the show. Many saw the show as a 9/11 allegory, even though the damage the Cylons inflicted on the humans was incalculably greater than that of the terrorist attacks on America. The absurdity of a room full of reporters questioning the president was pointed out many times -- it was meant to resemble the real-world political situation, but a population of less than fifty thousand could not possibly need that many competing news organizations. The abortion storyline was meant to challenge the audience's ideas about real-world abortion, but the fact that the fleet would have a very hard time supporting a bunch of helpless infants clearly made Roslin's decision unfeasible.

* In the Disney animated feature film, ''Disney/TheLionKing'', the symbol that made sure Simba overcame his [[spoiler: unnecessary]] guilt, was during the cleansing rains pouring down on Pride Rock after the final battle, a wildebeest skull is washed away by the torrent.

* The boy that Shepard sees killed at the start of ''MassEffect3'' and repeatedly dreams about is outright stated to be the symbol that this time Shepard can't save everyone. [[spoiler: The appearance of the boy as a visual representation of the Catalyst symbolizes that Shepard can end the war but ''still'' can't save everyone: either the friendly AIs like [=EDI=] and (possibly) the geth, Shepard, or Shepard's physical body and humanity, have to be sacrificed]].

* The climax of Creator/GrantMorrison's ''Comicbook/{{New X-Men}}'' features a BadFuture that's essentially a sci-fi take on The Literature/BookOfRevelation. Just to drive the point home, the BigBad is the [[GrandTheftMe body-snatching]] microorganism Sublime, who spends the story possessing Dr. Hank [=McCoy=]--thus truly literally Sublime [[TheAntichrist "The Beast"]]. It's never explained ''how'', exactly, [[GreatOffscreenWar Sublime managed to take over the world in Beast's body]]--and it strains WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief a bit, considering Beast's limited powers, and the fact that Sublime earlier failed to conquer the world when he possessed two of the most powerful mutants on Earth--but the inconsistencies are excused because they fit with the Revelation-inspired imagery.

* ''NeonGenesisEvangelion'' is infamous for this... although what's actually symbolic and what's just window dressing is under considerable debate.

[[caption-width-right:320:''Vanitas'' by Pieter Claesz\\
So ''why'' would anyone put a candle about to go out, a skull, a withering flower, a watch, a cracked nut, and a letter[[hottip:*:reflecting that life is short and art is long]] on a table together?]]

->[[WebVideo/BrowsHeldHigh Oancitizen]]: Why is this [[RevolutionaryGirlUtena pink haired bitch]] a car!?!
->JesuOtaku: Symbolism!