
Since the beginning of time symbols are a defining work of art which motivates the world in many ways. Depending on the aspect in which symbols are used they can take on powerful meanings to shape the world in more ways than one, or they can have very little effect to leave almost no mark on their surroundings and become forgotten in the passage of time. Although symbols can have varied effects on specific cultures and religions due to certain historical events some symbols have lost their original meanings over time or can adapted several meanings depending on the context in which it is used. Such as Foster “Is that a Symbol” object can take on meaning but depending on the situation and how it is approached what meaning does it take is another concept. Foster encounter with symbols is that people want symbols to have a meaning, but in a literary sense coming to determine what kind of meaning it takes is the problem. With Foster people have different experience’s in life, so coming to a proper conclusion as to what might a symbol be is complicated. Some symbols are not merely objects and images but can be defined in actions or events. On the other side John Reed seems to differ about how symbols operate in literature, stating that in most cases looking for symbolism is futile because they do not exist. As such with the famous book “To Kill a Mockingbird” when asking author Harper Lee about the book she said she was “trying to write a book that publishers would buy and publish and hopefully sell the movie rights as well.” This going against everything is which Foster was trying claim about authors trying to create symbolisms within their stories, trying to give meaning to a story. Authors do try to have some time of meaning to their story and have some worth and value to it, on the contrary symbolism does not always have to play a huge in part in developing a meaning or purpose behind a story in literature as it does not always have to be present to make something good. 

As far as symbols in literature they also have a real-world application to them as well, having permanent marks etched through history and inside of books as well. “The Power of Symbols” by Alex Warren goes in a philosophical aspect of symbols in the world, referring to philosophers such a Socrates and Plato. Plato used the word “Archetypes”, translation from Greek as the word “ideas” it boils down to that this is beyond anything with that of a materialistic sense. Anything that is around you and of this earth reflects an “idea” of that thing. Going deeper into that context we have formulas of drawing the perfect square or equilateral triangle or circle yet manifesting them into the material world is impossible because people will find imperfections in them. They exist in the “idea” metaphysical yet bringing them on the physical plane is next to impossible. Though Warren idea differences from both Foster and Reed idea they are still connected since they are similar in nature, while one refers to symbols existing off the physical plane Foster and Reed debates on whether they do exist and if so in which was does it exist to the reader. Warren goes on about cultural perspective and how we tend to get stuck in them while being shaped by society, religion, politics, or culture in which we were raised in. In doing so we do not actually see symbols for what they are but as to what they were established to us by our surrounding. 

In another article by Radu Alexander “10 Symbols that lost their original meaning” he goes on to explain how history and time changed the ways in which some symbols are perceived, one such symbol is the swastika. Used in Hitler reign of the Nazi party and more so in the holocaust of the Jews parading around with such a symbol could have costly effect to be deemed as a hate crime since the original meaning of the symbol was associated with the Buddha and Hindu religion was lost centuries ago. In seeing this symbols can have varies meaning which, when seen in certain ways by certain cultures or people, can positively or negatively impact the way they view that symbol in relation to the world. Warren philosophical aspect plays deep into Alexander article by seeing how some symbols goes beyond the metaphysical sense and that people are blind to the meaning and true purpose of some symbols since the world around them shaped them to see it in only one way.

Symbols overall can change courses in history and in literature, depending on who you ask. Whether it is in a book, jewelry, or a simply flag waving in the air there may or may not be a meaning behind it. Taking an approach to how you see fit in determining what such a symbol might mean is in the observer own discretion, as it might be for the better or for the worse. 
