The Use of Symbolism to Foreshadow the Future in Kate...

The Use of Symbolism to Foreshadow the Future in Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour and Toni Cade Bambaras The Lesson Often authors use signs to foreshadow events that will happen in the future in their stories. For example an author might write As he was walking down the dark eerie path dark skies began to form . Here the writer uses a usually negative sign to foreshadow a negative future. This is the most common way for authors to foreshadow in a story, but it isnt the only way. In some instances authors use symbols to foreshadow the future of a character. Like foreshadowing with signs, symbols can also be used to foreshadow both positive and negative futures. In the two short stories The story of an Hour by Kate Chopin†¦show more content†¦The open square gives the reader a sense that since the death of the womans husband she now has many open possibilities or a variety of options with her life. When she writes about new spring life its as if the woman was dull and lifeless as the winter is, but when spring comes things start to grow and become more lively just as she is now that she isnt held down by her husband. Chopin also goes on to write, The delicious breath of rain was in the air... There were patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds that had met and piled one above the other in the west facing her window, (Chopin 157). In many instances rain symbolizes dreary events and negative vibes, and here the author writes of the taste of rain in the air as if the rain has passed and the skies have cleared. This gives the reader the sense that the woman has persevered through the storm of her marriage with the death of her husband. Chopin uses those symbols to foreshadow a positive future for the woman in her story. In a similar fashion, but very different story Tony Cade Bambara uses symbolism to foreshadow the future of a young girl named Sylvia. Bambaras story begins in the projects of a poor New York neighborhood wh ere a group of very young children are being taken downtown Manhattan to a toy store called F.A.O. Schwarz. The