Most authors hide certain meanings in a symbol but the the meanings of the symbols could be different from others. In the short story, "Is that a Symbol?", Foster suggested that individuals may have different meanings of symbols because of their values and experience. By looking at repetition, the symbol of caves, and emphasize, we can see that individuals are different and may interpret symbols in different ways compare to other individuals. This is important because people’s values should not be judge if they are different from others. Also, there is not a right or wrong interpretation to a symbol in stories unless the author specifically states the meaning of that symbol or give enough evidence to show what the author wanted the symbol to mean.   

Foster repeats the word experience through out “Is That a Symbol?” in order to show that people have unique meanings because of their experiences.  Foster states, “Every reader’s experience of every work is unique, largely because each person will emphasize various elements to differing degrees…” (21). Readers will emphasize certain words or images in a passage or story to show what they think the message or theme of the story as well as determining what a symbol represents. The quote shows that people will have different meanings than other people and that it fine because their meanings can make them unique or special. In order to find the meanings, Foster state, “…an individual history to our reading, a mix of previous readings…educational attainment, gender, race, class, faith, social involvement, and philosophical inclination” (21). These factors that can be experienced will allow the reader to determine if they can relate to the message or symbol in the story. If a reader can relate to the details in the stories, they will interpret the symbol the way they have experienced it. For example, one person can see that a heart means love while the other person may think it represents heartbreak because of the way the experienced that symbol. In general, Foster wants readers to use their experiences in order to find certain messages in the stories. 

Foster uses caves to show that people have different views or experiences of what the caves represent. Foster explains that Mrs. Moore had a different experience than Adela. Mrs. Moore was terrified of the cave because it was crowded and she felt threatened by the people she was with. On the other hand, Adela’s experience in the cave was horrible. Even though they experienced the caves in different situations, Mrs. Moore and Adela can say they do not prefer caves. This is an example on how people have different experiences but can find a similar meaning with the symbols. Foster states, “…Godbole’s message might be that the caves must be experienced before they can be understood or that every person’s caves are different.” When Foster states the quote, readers should think the caves represents values because Foster explains how peoples’ experience can reflect on certain values. The quote shows that people should see other people’s values or experiences before the judge because people are different than yourself. Readers should also gather that values can lead them to finding messages or meanings of symbols. Foster used different people’s experiences to show how they found define caves even if people come to a similar meaning. 

During the story, Foster italics the word something to put emphasizes on the word. When Foster used the words, he is trying to explain how people want experiences, symbols, or other things to have a meaning and how people want it to mean something special to them. In order to have a meaning to something, readers have to dig deeper into the story to find clues that can help them discover the meaning but they may have to find an experience that happened to them in order to lead them to the meaning or message of the symbol or story because many authors hide clue or the meaning itself deep in the story. 

In the story, “Is That a Symbol?”, Foster wanted readers to see that individuals have different experiences that can express their values which can lead people to interpret symbols or meanings in different ways. Foster wanted readers to see that have different interpretations because there may not be a right or wrong answer to the meanings in the story or  behind symbols unless the author specifically states the meaning of the symbol or the clues that would lead to the meaning of that symbol.  