Office At Night By Edward Hopper Symbolism

Improved Essays
Edward Hoppers paintings always tell a story. ‘Office at night’ is no different. In the painting created in 1940, Edward Hopper leaves the viewer wondering what truly is going on in the somewhat mysterious situation. While some might only see two people having a regular night in the office, the many clues given in the painting leaves one’s mind wondering – is there something immoral going on? The open window, mysterious lighting, and the facial expressions of both individuals suggest a deeper story within the painting. The whole scene displayed takes action in small room, which according to the name of the painting, must be an office. The walls on the office are light and the floor is green. The furniture is made out of wood,

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    In the memoir Night by Eli Wiesel, the author uses fire as a motif to convey the idea that death does not always mean the death of the body, it could also mean the death of faith and hope. For example the author states,”Never shall I forget the flames that consumed my faith forever. ”(78) This supports the idea that death does not always mean the death of the body, it could be the death of the soul and mind, because faith is part of the soul, so that means part of Eli’s soul died when he saw the flames. After this Eli becomes a different person, questioning his faith.…

    • 206 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The bull is symbolically used to reference the feeling of redemption that is desired by one’s religious figure, and the initiative it would take to get it, in the short story “Greenleaf” by Flannery O’ Connor. The author used a simile to help symbolize the bull by writing “…the bull, silvered in the moonlight, stood under it, his head raised as if he listened- like some patient god come down to woo her” in order to convey that while one can desire redemption, one would have to take immeasurable steps before one is granted absolution. This is why the scrub bull is symbolically used as a religious figure to show that one does not have to be pure to be religious. Symbolism is used throughout the text, as when the author writes, “The bull lowered…

    • 217 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Holocaust was a period of genocide in which under Adolf Hitler’s command, 6 million Jews were killed. In this novel, Elie Wiesel shares his experiences in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps. In Night, Wiesel exemplifies a number of literary strategies throughout the novel. Through comparisons, symbolism, and personification, the main character’s progression is conveyed at the three different stages of the novel.…

    • 1336 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Charles Sheeler

    • 1004 Words
    • 5 Pages

    On the left, you can see two rugs and a staircase that is leading upstairs. On the right, you can see a fireplace and a stove. Near the bottom of the painting you can make out a picnic table, it’s chopped off the painting but enough is there to tell what the object is. The painting also contains light; the source is coming from the lower right side of the painting. The source of light is shown by the shadows from the chair and the staircase.…

    • 1004 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Title: Dorm Life The two themes this picture conveys are place and identity. To a stranger, this will seem like a regular desk and there are millions of desks similar to this one. To me, however, I see my desk that is located in my dorm, and is different from everyone else's. In this picture, you can pick up some traits that may expose some characteristics of the owner's identity.…

    • 303 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The use of Symbolism in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin By Bridget DeBow English 1302 Central Texas College April 4th, 2013 The Story of an Hour Outline Thesis: I. Although there are many literary devices used in "The Story of an Hour", I have decided to write my essay on the use of Symbolism. Para.…

    • 766 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The painting in that room uses multiple vanishing points to keep the viewers eye moving and shift the perspective, giving the room added depth. This illusion can also make the room seem like it’s larger. Frescoes also just provide decoration in a room or on a wall. The colors used can change the feeling of the entire room, and the amount of detail work can make a room feel busy or…

    • 653 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Tim Winton’s “That Eye, The Sky” utilises symbolism throughout the entirety of the novel to express key ideas. The novel is written from the perspective of young protagonist Morton “Ort” Flack, and explores the state of his family while they cope with the once man of the house, father Sam Flack’s devastating accident. Upon the arrival of a mysterious individual the family drastically changes, as Henry Warburton introduces God into the lives of each individual. Symbols which have been used include the sky, hair and the city and have been cleverly used to portray key ideas in the novel.…

    • 527 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Symbolism in the works of literature refers to the use of objects, people, animals, and situations that have other meaning than the literal one used in the story. It creates a certain emotion or mood in the story making the reader understand it better. Symbolism is widely applied in the story Everyday Use by Alice Walker. This paper will explore symbolism in the story Everyday Use which includes the house, quilt, yard and characteristics of some characters.…

    • 1219 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    LACMA Museum Essay

    • 704 Words
    • 3 Pages

    LACMA is a museum which located at the downtown Los Angeles. Basically this is an art museum. The significant logo about this museum is the urban light. Urban light is created by Chris Burden. There are two hundred and two iron antique street lamps.…

    • 704 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It is undisputable that the holocaust was one of the most infamous tragedies, or perhaps even the most infamous tragedy, in human history. However, we cannot dismiss it from our minds due to its great magnitude of evil, because we can also learn a great magnitude about the human spirit through the stories of those who survived and overcame it. In such stories, the resiliency of the human spirit is often displayed through symbols to which the author gives traits by associating events and in his or her choice of words. One well-known and powerfully written book is Night by Elie Wiesel, in which he tells the story of his own survival of the holocaust. This story is ripe with deeply meaningful symbols, particularly ones that show that resiliency…

    • 1192 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Starry Night” is a poem by Anne Sexton that was written to show her own analysis of the painting by Vincent van Gogh which holds the same name. While the painting is a beautiful work in itself, Sexton’s poem provides details that accentuates the painting. Sexton’s interpretation of the painting is completely angled toward a beautiful death experience. Sexton’s poem is filled with imagery, figurative language, and diction that brings more life and understanding to the painting. Anne Sexton created a mental picture for the reader by providing descriptive words that appeal to the senses.…

    • 731 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Holocaust was the persecution and massacre of six million prisoners in the hands of the Nazi’s. One of the many prisoners that were sent to these death camps was Elie Wiesel. Elie Wiesel was 15 years old when he was first entered the most famous concentration camp, Auschwitz. He was painfully unaware of the torture he would encounter but fought for survival and succeeded. In his personal memoir Night, Elie Wiesel uses characterization, figurative language and symbolism to bring to light what happened to him and the other prisoners at these horrid death camps.…

    • 925 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    1984 Symbolism Essay

    • 1451 Words
    • 6 Pages

    When reading 1984 by George Orwell, the first thing that becomes apparent is the near-omnipresent use of symbolism. By using symbolism throughout the novel, George Orwell paints a bleak future that could very well become a reality. From a totalitarian corrupt government to brainwashed citizens and surveillance that blankets the world, the dystopian future depicted in 1984 could easily become our future if we are not careful, and George Orwell wants to make sure that it doesn’t. By placing symbols throughout the book that warn of the perils of a dystopian future, Orwell did all he could to warn us of an unfortunate, yet possible reality.…

    • 1451 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Description There are various shades of blue and black, splashes of yellows, a textured cypress tree, yellow stars, a crescent moon glazed in its own yellow light, a blue mountain range, fields of blue, a town, buildings was a dash of orange in the windows, a church with a large steeple, vertical and horizontal lines, black lines in the tree, small trees in the town with curly tops, reflections of the yellow moonlight on the tops of the buildings and the small trees. Analysis There are five striking elements and principles of design throughout Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. The first is the use of composition, the second is the use of color, the third is use of line, the forth is the use of movement, and the fifth is the rhythm of the painting. Also, there is a good use of overlapping and detail throughout the painting.…

    • 1029 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays