The Swastika symbol is predominantly identified as a representation of the Nazi party and/or Adolf Hitler. Therefore, it is not a symbol that is considered positive by the majority of the population. The swastika has come to represent racial hatred in our world. Personally, I associate this symbol with one of the worst events in our world’s history. This symbol brings to mind images of death and torture of so many people due to nothing more than the color of their skin and other physical features. After all these years, it is still hard to comprehend how people could be so evil. How can one man’s beliefs condemn thousands to death? These are all the thoughts and questions that enter my mind when seeing this symbol. The barbarity of …show more content…
I have always heard this symbol represented witches and satanism but never really gave it much thought. This paper gave me the opportunity to explore a symbol and understand its meaning. Wicca is defined as “a religion influenced by pre-Christian beliefs and practices of western Europe that affirms the existence of supernatural power (as magic) and of both male and female deities who inhere in nature and that emphasizes ritual observance of seasonal and life cycles.” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, n.d.) Wicca is commonly practiced by modern day witches. The Wiccan religion, along with paganism and satanism, use the Pentagram as their symbol. The Pentagram has 5 points that intersect and forms a star inside a circle. Wiccans believe the points of the star represent the five elements which are fire, earth, water, air and ether. As the previous symbols, the Pentagrams did not originate as the Wiccan symbol. It was first used around 3000 B.C. in Mesopotamian writings. (Chambers Dictionary, 2007) This symbol through the years has represented different faiths such as Christianity, Latter Day Saints, and Satanism. It has also been used in mathematics and as a symbols for different organizations. It was not until recently that the Pentagram became the religious symbol of the Wiccans. Although, many disagree what the points of the star represent most can agree that the Pentagram symbolizes
According to Wikipedia, a symbol is a mark, sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship. Symbols allow us to go beyond what is known or seen by creating links between concepts and experiences. They help create a better understanding of the plot, theme, or characters in literature. For example, Lord of the Flies, by William Golding consists of several symbols. The novel is about a group of British boys who are stranded on an island with nothing but their knowledge of human civilization. They try to create a society of their own, but it begins to subside as they descend into savagery. Symbols like the conch, the beast, or the painted masks help reveal their true nature. However, the most important symbol is the fire. Golding uses the fire to paradoxically represent savagery, destruction and most significantly hope of rescue. He describes the fire as technology that menaces destruction if it gets out of control, yet ironically it also symbolizes the boys’ connection to human civilization.
Symbolism is used in many ways and writers use symbolism to “enhance their writing.” It can give their work “more richness and color and can make the meaning of the work deeper.” In literary work the actions of the characters, words, action, place, or event has a deeper meaning in the context of the whole story. The reader needs to look see the little things like a dove symbolizes peace, or like the red rose stands for romance. Mostly everything can have a symbolism meaning to it. For instance the flag symbolizes freedom and the stars represent the states. Even some signs are symbols like when a beaker has a skull with a bones placed like an ‘x’ behind it symbolizes that it’s toxic or bad. When people see the red light when driving that’s
Why does most of the world look down upon the Swastika? Why do people think of Germany, World War Two, and the Holocaust when somebody mentions or views an image of the Swastika? The Swastika was used by Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany during World War Two and the Holocaust. During this historic time, it became a symbol of hate, anti semitism, violence, death, and murder (History) . However the symbol did not originate there. It was ancient symbol used over 3,000 years ago. Many religions, including Buddhists and Hindus, still use the Swastika today.
Symbolism can represent anything you want through the use of symbols. This is what Elie Wiesel does in his book Night. He describes his first night at the camp in Auschwitz writing “Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, that turned my life into one long night seven times sealed” (Doc A). This is where “night” turns into a symbol of sadness and hopelessness. In the book And Every Single One Was Someone by Phil Chernofsky the word “Jew” (Doc B) is also symbolic. Each word in the book represent a life that was taken during the Holocaust. These words symbolized more than what was and is recognized.
Also referred to as the endless knot, the pentangle is best described as a five pointed star that is enclosed in a circle that represents both spiritual and physical elements, and is often worn as an amulet. There have been countless associations made for a pentangle and tend to draw meaning from a religious perspective, as well as a moral one. Therefore, the pentangle signifies several values and forces which emphasize the symbolism and representation of this object. Throughout the poem, the
They have a few arguments which I wish to bring to attention. First, people will say that General E. Lee’s battle flag represents racism and slavery. However, Lee was against slavery, in a letter written to his wife he says, “… that slavery as an institution, is a moral & political evil in any Country” (Freeman, 372). Also, he supported his wife to liberate slaves and helped fund their move to Liberia (Fellman, 67). Secondly, people have pointed out that the flag is associated with white supremacist groups such as the KKK. This is true however, the swastika is synonymous with the Germany’s Nazi party, but it was around long before the party was established.
The Swastika is used as a symbol for hope. “The word Swastika comes from the Sanskrit Svastika.”(ushmm.org). Svastika means “Good Fortune.” Svastika also means “Well-Being.” The Swastika is well known in many religions. The Swastika is a sacred symbol in Hinduism, and is also used in Buddhism. The Swastika is considered a form of cross. Motifs are decorative design. “The motif,”Swastika,” is thought to have first been used in Neorfthic Eurasia.”(ushmm.org). The Nazi flag is red with a white circle. “The red represents the social ideal.”(Loeser, crwflags.com). “The white represents nationalism.”(crwflags.com). “Some common nicknames for the Swastika are Gammadion, Hakenkle, and Flyflot.”(holocaust-trc.org). “The Swastika is thought to represent the movement of the sun.”(ushmm.org) World War II was known as one of the most destructive wars ever waged. It tore most of the world into 2 factions. “The Nazis ruined the Swastika.”(Soniak, mentalfloss.com) “The Nazis believed the Swastika was “eternally anti-semitic”.”(holocaust-trc.org). “Both Anti-Semites and unemployed workers rallied to the banner.”(holocaust-trc.org). The Swastikas flag did what Hitler wanted to accomplish. The Swastika represents the death of millions of people. Because of this, the symbol is associated with genocide. This is like Hitler’s mustache, in which something good is turned bad because of events. “People are trying to rehabilitate the
MaryAlice, having been raised in MS allow me to educate you on the history of the KKK. It is true it was initially organized as a social club – by six Confederate Veterans in 1865. When they realized by riding around town at night while in disguise made former slaves afraid, they thought it was funny. As a result they decided to give it an organizational structure in 1867. It was at this point the KKK, as we know it today became into existence. Even then it was an organization that was compiled of whites who targeted any person who were in support of post Reconstruction-era policies aimed at establishing political and economic equality for blacks….and now any non-whites. As for the flag, I would place it in the same category as the Swastika.
This symbol dates back many years ago before Hitler even designed the Nazi flag. In German, the word translates to “good fortune” or “well-being.” Shortly after the Nazis’ adopted this symbol, it became the most recognizable icon of Nazi Propaganda. It appeared on the flag, posters, arm bands, medallions, and badges for the military and other organizations. This symbol not only represents the Nazi party and their way of thinking, but it also represents their willingness to fight for their beliefs.
There is relatively dark shading in the third panel, creating a gloomy mood in the train carriage. The biggest symbol in this scene however, is the swastika. The swastika is a symbol for the german Nazis, as well as war. To the Jews however, the swastika is a symbol of fear,suppression and extermination. In the scene, the third panel uses the swastika as a sign of the German Nazis, while it is used in repetition when the stories of what was happening to the Jews as a background. The background is pitch black, with a white circle and the swastika inside. The use of repetition is to emphasise the demeaning of the Jews, and also functions like a growing moon, that is dawning over the Jews, but is dominant everywhere. However,the swastika originally has vertical and horizontal lines, as a symbol of peace, before it was tilted slightly to be used as a flag for the german Nazis. There is an irony that in the third panel, the flag is folded to look like the original swastika, perhaps suggesting that there is ‘peace’ in the town because there aren’t any
Traditional piñatas that have a religious meaning are traditionally shaped like a seven or ten-pointed star piñata. The seven points represent the seven deadly sins while the ten points represents the ten commandments. The stick that is used to break the piñata represents love. The people around you blindfold you so that you will not be enticed by evil and so that the good people that surround you, can guide you to what is good.
-Since the Swastika is from all these different places and cultures, it has different meanings. It means good luck and good future in Europe, whereas in Germany the Swastika was a symbol of “Aryan identity” and German pride.
A basic yellow star can be placed in any film representing the awe and wonders of midnight and its amazing illumination of outer space. It is also used as a way of acknowledgement, complimenting elementary school kids on good behavior. Not to mention, the first word of a hit movie saga that had children jumping up and down on furniture and sliding their hands across the air—when their parents said no to their favorite snack. But to many others, this yellow star is associated to completely different words like genocide, gas chambers, and extermination. This same yellow star, so often seen in our society, labeled Jews during the Nazi Holocaust, and contributed to the deaths of over six million Jews and a total of eleven million people. Strangely
The Swastika went from being a great symbol that was worshiped, to being a hated symbol on a flag that represented one of the worst things that has ever happened in history, mass genocide. The Swastika is best known as a symbol on the flag for the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi) in Germany. The Nazis were a political group of people trying to take over the world and exterminate the Jews during WWII in 1933-1945. Adolf Hitler became their leader and led Germany to exterminate between 5 and 6 million Jews during that time.. Hitler adopted the Swastika because of its ancient Aryan origins. The history of the Swastika goes way back 11,000 years ago with the Hindus. The Swastika was actually not hated but cherished. It was a religious symbol that meant good fortune. There is still a holiday celebrated in many Eastern cultures where they shoot off fireworks in the shape of Swastikas. It went from a loved symbol by many cultures
The olive branch is known worldwide as a symbol of peace. The eagle is the symbol of freedom. Going deeper, the swastika is the symbol of Nazism. Symbols have very large impacts on the way a person sees things and these symbols can influence decisions.