Colors can be a great help in allowing the reader to understand a character’s importance and personality with minimal introduction. Still, something that can better help the reader learn more about the character is symbolism! Having a character be represented by a symbol, object, and/or concept not only creates more depth for the character and can lead to readers connecting dots towards that character, but it can also allow the reader to start theorizing the true core of a character that they might be hiding, or is purposely hidden from the reader, without spoiling the character’s identity yet.
As an example, a character represented by a red rose can indicate to the reader a multitude of meanings; a character with a loving heart that is often protected by a deadly barrier of thorns to protect the true colors of the character from anyone who might be a threat to them, or a character that uses their beauty as it’s own weapon to draw in people for their benefit. For my own character, I use both the different meanings of the color red and the symbolism of a rose to create a character that was meant to spread love and happiness to those in pain, but was driven and forced to create death wherever she went, becoming a danger to everyone around her, since red can mean danger and a rose can cause pain in not tended to properly.
Another example of symbolism for duo characters can be the classic yin and yang! For those who might know, yin and yang represent a perfect balance between opposites, how two completely independent opposites can still be dependent on each other, and create a harmonious balance! It’s a beautiful, well-used symbol for characters who are constantly at war with each other, yet can’t seem to live without one another. Although its not the main symbolism that people use to represent that balance, it’s still an implied symbol readers can connect to, creating a depth for those two characters that despite being so different in beliefs, powers, ranks, and/, etc, they find a way to make sure the other still has a space in that world so that both can continue to live in harmon. This is often seen with soulmate characters, platonic, storge (family love), or romantic, and it’s a beautiful way to showcase that exact independence each character has and dependence that each character experiences for each other.
The reason why using symbolism can be important and, at times, necessary for a character is that it can create a universal understanding for the reader as they connect that character with something that they might relate to, and that causes a flow of emotions that results in a personal connection with the character and the reader. That feeling of bittersweet joy a reader can make with their soon-to-be favorite character, as, on top of that, learning the deep complexities of the character’s existence, is an emotional link that can’t be replicated with bland characters!!
So, if you want to use symbolism to create depth for your characters, go at it!!! Who knows? Maybe you might just create an emotional link between that character and someone who enjoys viewing your work!
