Wise Blood Symbolism

Throughout the novel, Wise Blood written by Flannery O'Connor, the use of symbolism is used to explore many aspects of characters within the story. O'Connor uses many different writing techniques to depict her objective in writing. The use of symbolism is a technique she uses to justify her characterizations and the messages she wants readers to understand through this novel. This use of symbolism provides readers with an ability to develop a strong understanding of characters throughout Wise Blood through her use of symbolism. Within the book, three important symbols are used to symbolize aspects of Hazel Motes' character. These important aspects of Motes' character are the Essex, coffins, and sight and blindness. An object used to symbolize an important part of Motes' character is the Essex. At the beginning of the novel, Hazel Motes is yearning for the ability to buy a vehicle. When he finally can pursue the Essex, he becomes infatuated with the car similar to an obsession. The Essex symbolizes an extension of Motes himself. The extension of the character symbolizes …show more content…
The Essex is seen to be symbolic of Motes' home because whenever he felt the need to escape the world around him he would go to his car. Having the ability to escape the world around him Motes tends to wander into spiritual restlessness. As a character who is constantly in disequilibrium as well as questions his faith continuously. The Essex is symbolic of Motes' life pushed into a ditch by a police officer. The symbolism of the Essex in the ditch represents the life, of Hazel Motes being falling to pieces. From this point onward, Motes loses his faith and desire to preach about the Church Without Christ. After losing the Essex along with everything, the Essex represented his faith, escape, and desire to preach he resorts to punishing himself. The destruction of the Essex symbolizes the destruction of Motes'