Summer Novels - Symbolism

This summer I read the Old Man and the Sea and Fahrenheit 451. Both of these book were chalk full of symbolism. From a fish standing for trials and tribulations to a wall-to-wall television screen representing societies indulgences. In the Old Man and the sea I felt their were a lot of symbolic meanings having to do with life. The fish's life ending, Santiago's life ending, the fight before his life ended. It really seemed to me that everything sort of came back to life and death.

In Fahrenheit 451 there was not as much symbolism but still quite a large amount of it. I got the feeling that the Firemen represented the fear and prejudices of society, rather than learning about the books and embracing them they simply burn them and hide. Something else I sort of felt the whole book was symbolic for was racism. In the same way a lot of people hated books, some people seemed to have an open mind and be willing to learn about. Others were willing to die for the books believing they were wonderful. In the end the hatred and fear killed them by destroying their life. Both these books were full of symbolism for sure and I could probably keep going but I am pretty tired right now.