Symbols In Winesburg

            
             In Winesburg, Ohio Sherwood Anderson paints a picture about life in a small town. Anderson uses many symbols to convey the feelings of his characters with in the town. The most important symbols in Winesburg, Ohio are the use of the words fist and hands that symbolize the anger and frustration of the characters.
             Wing Biddlebaum is introduced in the story "Hands". He is very withdrawn from the rest of the townspeople. When he was a young man he had a horrible experience that he never fully recovers from. This experience has left him quite nervous " Wing Biddlebaum closed his fist and beat with them upon a table- (p.29). This action was not only triggered by nerves but by his frustration as well. His whole life was effected from his confrontation some twenty years ago in Pennsylvania. This forces him to live the rest of his life as an unhappy and broken man.
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             Stuart (2).
             With Alice Hindman in the story "Adventure" we see another character that is frustrated with the outcome of her life. Alice was in the company of a young man named Ned Currie who was moving to Cleveland to further his career. Before he leaves Alice and Ned have personal relations and she promises her self to him. AS time goes on Alice finally realizes that Ned is not coming back for her. By now many years have passed and Alice had a strong sense of loneliness and feels her youth has passed her. One night out of no where a strange feeling sweeps over her and she runs out into the streets of town naked in the rain. While in the street she is embarrassed by an old man and falls to the ground " but crawled on hands and knees through the grass to her house" (p.120). Symbolizing her frustration with being alone and wasting her youth.
             The Reverend Curtis Hartman is highly respected in the town. We meet the Reverend in the story "The Strength Of God" were his faith is tested. Both The Reverend and his wife are refined and educated people.