Journal Symbolic Comparison on Authors Walker and Anderson

In "Hands" by Sherwood Anderson, Anderson uses symbolic writing describing an incident with a former school teacher in Pennsylvania named Adolph Myers. Adolph was run out of town by townsmen in a misunderstanding with Mr. Myers' relationship with his students. This symbolism continues into his later life after being run out of Pennsylvania into Winesburg as an old man that lives outside of town. The unknown reasoning for the nervousness, quick hands of Mr. Meyers which he is known as Wing Biddlebaum in Winesburg. This symbolism that Anderson uses will be compared to the symbolism used in "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker in this journal. In "Everyday Use" Walker uses symbolism describing a small family of three narrarated by the Mother, known as Mama. Walker uses symbolism in describing the setting, such as living room comfort in their front yard, Maggie's walk as "a lame animal , perhaps a dog run over" (Walker 2). In this short story Walker symbolizes settings and characters and their emotions between each other. Walker's symbolism helps the readers' minds get into the setting and emotions of the short story. Anderson's symbolism in "Hands" describes thoughts and personality conflicts within and about the old man Biddlebaum. Biddlebaum had "ghostly band of doubts" (Anderson 1) that haunted him and kept him distant from socialization of the town which he lived outside of. The story was working up to why he had fear of socializing with the townspeople, what was the story behind his quick, nervous hands? The towns mystery was Mr. Biddlebaum's hands and disconnect from the town. The symbolism in "Hands" describes the plot to the story unlike the symbolism in "Everyday Use" which describes details that helps understand the plot of the story, not necessarily describing the whole plot like "Hands". The difference in symbolism is interesting to help a rookie writer as myself learn to use symbolism in diverse ways. Using symbolism as the plot in "Hands" was