Comparing Symbolism In 'The Bridge And' Through The Tunnel

The three stories, "Through the Tunnel", "The Bridge", and "The Scarlet Ibis" all have some pretty deep messages behind the seemingly innocent stories. In "Through the Tunnel", it is about a boy named Jerry, who adventures to the big beach and discovers some new friends--the big boys. The big boys were jumping off a cliff into the water and disappearing for minutes at a time underwater. The curiosity began to take over Jerry as he tried to join the big boys in their adventure. Soon enough the big boys were tired of Jerry, causing them to pack up and leave. Jerry's embarrassment motivated him to go through the underwater tunnel, and soon enough he did. "The Bridge" is about another young man named Kostya, who was utterly terrified of everything, …show more content…
Though, "The Scarlet Ibis" is less comparable to some of the symbols in the other two stories, some can be comparable also. The water in the stories represent life (ocean, river, and Old Woman Swamp). In "Through the Tunnel" and "The Bridge", there are many symbols that relate. For example, the mother and the grandmother, both are safe and nurturing adults who care for the younger children. Also, the "big boys" and the girl from both of the stories represent adults who do things that the younger boys cannot do yet. The main theme of both of the stores are the bridge and the tunnel, which are the journey to adulthood. Rocky and difficult, but in the end they become an adult with a new perspective of life. Some of the symbols in "The Scarlet Ibis" include: the plans to kill Doodle, the many foreshadows of death, and especially the Scarlet Ibis (the red bird). Whatever happens to the bird, happens to Doodle. Without these symbols in the story, they would not have the deeper meaning to them. The themes in "The Bridge" and "Through the Tunnel" are extremely similar. In "Through the Tunnel" the mains themes are that growing up can be pretty hard but everyone has to go through it, and setting personal goals challenges one to see just how much they can withstand. Comparable to the themes in "The Bridge", growing up is hard but everybody has to go through it, and doing things you normally would not do, to …show more content…
In "Through the Tunnel", the triggers for Jerry were the want and need to be with the big boys, "the craving that filled his whole body". Also, the want and need to be like the big boys who were diving into the water. In "The Bridge", Kostya's triggers in the story were when the girl falls off the bridge, he had the choice to dive off and save her or keep going. Also, the two bikes lying side by side after Kostya goes back to the river to get them, brings a different mind set. And in "The Scarlet Ibis" the elder brother's trigger was the embarrassment he had because Doodle could not walk at age five, and that he was always with him. This trigger in "The Scarlet Ibis" is also the same type of trigger for the other two stories also. It was embarrassment that triggered the characters in the stories. The embarrassment that laid upon Jerry when the big boys left him. The embarrassment that stuck with Kostya because he was scared of everything--even his own shadow. And the embarrassment in which the elder brother had because Doodle was unable to walk at age five. Some the moments of insight from "Through the Tunnel" was it was no longer of importance to be at the bay. Also, Jerry overcame his obstacle and now realizes that he is successfully a grown up. In "The Bridge" the moments of insight were when Kostya started seeing his trip from a different perspective when he was answering the girl's questions. Another