User:SageSelios/sandbox

The Use of Symbolism in American Gods

Neil Gaiman utilizes folklore and mythology in all of his literary works, but American Gods is riddled with these elements. It’s not simply the use of gods from different mythologies that make up his use of folklore and mythology but how he uses symbols and allusions to elevate his story. Some of the symbolism Gaiman utilizes is as simple as the inclusion of roadside attractions and how the road itself is a symbol. Timothy H. Evans draws attention to how from beginning to end the novel takes place primarily on the road and while taking time to feature the typical establishments that line the road. It’s meant to be a portrayal of America and its constant state of movement and fluidity. America is a place where everything is always in fluxion, this applies to not just identities, communities but the myths that reside there as well (Michael Dylan Foster and Tolbert 70).

           Additionally, the roadside attractions play a significant part in providing symbolism within American Gods. The attractions in question refer to the House on the Rock and Rock City. These two locations, as well as others mentioned passingly in the novel, serve as sacred spaces for the gods. These locations are perfect blend of the modern world and the mythical. These places are described as being “made up of elements from all over” (Michael Dylan Foster and Tolbert 71). These roadside attractions are amalgamation of what can be considered American culture. They are places rife with mythical and cultural significance for the gods rather than Americans. These seemingly mundane locations hold symbolic meaning to the gods due to the various amounts of folklore and myths from all over the world that converge all in one place. This supports the theme that it is belief that lends power and meaning to places and objects. Roadside attractions in American Gods are the equivalent of temples and other places of worship across the world (Michael Dylan Foster and Tolbert 72).

           Some of the symbolism present within American Gods can be directly connected to the protagonist Shadow Moon. Shadow is, at one point in the novel, connect to the world tree Yggdrasil through death. The world tree itself is a symbol of death, life, rebirth and enlightenment but its symbolism within the novel slightly differs. Shadow’s predicament is in direct relation to how Odin hung himself as a form of self-sacrifice on Yggdrasil to obtain wisdom and knowledge (“Yggdrasill | Norse Mythology”). The attainment of Shadow’s knowledge can be attributed to the several mythical beings that visit him before his death such as Horus and Ratatoskr and the deities he encounters in the underworld (Slabbert and Viljoen). The tribulations Shadow endured while tied to Yggdrasil marks a change in Shadow’s character. Yggdrasil symbolizes the transformation Shadow went through and subsequent formal initiation into the world of gods.

           Another symbol that directly correlates with Shadow is that of the thunderbird. The thunderbird itself is a mythical creature connected to Indigenous North America. The bird is often associated with storms which correlates with American Gods’ constant use of the word storm and everything that it entails (Garland). The thunderbird appears twice in the novel, once in one of Shadow’s dreams and again after he has successfully endured, his tribulation hanging from the world tree. The thunderbirds appearance coincides with the world tree in that both symbolize transformation for Shadow (Garland). Shadow’s attempt to reach for a thunderbirds feather but ultimately failing represented his desire to prove himself and be recognized as someone who is strong (Slabbert and Viljoen). Once more the second appearance of the thunderbird is after he comes back to life. Shadow has gone through a rebirth, especially with the help of Easter who herself represents rebirth, and almost immediately after having awakened Shadow is greeted by a screech of welcome. The thunderbird isn’t the only avian animal mentioned in American Gods, some of them being eagles, hawks and ravens. The ravens were normally connected to Wednesday (Odin) (Slabbert and Viljoen).

Another symbolic item of value within American Gods is the coin that Shadow continually carried around. The coin symbolizes fate and a relationship to the traditional methods of worship. As depicted in the novel, the coin highlights the many occurrences of fate throughout Shadow’s journey. Shadow constantly preforms coin tricks that symbolize the uncertainty of his life. For instance, at the start of the novel, Shadow’s wife, Laura, gets killed in a car accident. Shadow keeps the coin that was used in her casket, which was the first glimpse at how life can change in any moment. Not only does the coin determine fate for Shadow, but it is also utilized by Wednesday, since he also preforms coin tricks that help him manipulate people into worshipping him. In this way, the coin resembles how the gods influence people and their way of life, which is a constant conflict between the old and new gods.

One of the main purposes for Gaiman’s choice of characters is to portray the difference in society over time. While Gaiman utilized many emblems, he also incorporated various symbolic characters who played a large part in developing his story. The older gods that are shown, such as Wednesday, Mr. Nancy, and others have become irrelevant in the American culture because of the new gods like technology. Mr. Nancy for instance, is Anansi, the African spider god, who has withstood the curse of time. Anansi is known for his cunning and witty personality that helps him triumph over his opposers (Effenbergernová 21).  As portrayed in the novel, Mr. Nancy can narrate a good story that helps keep the tale of the gods alive and relevant in society. Overall Anansi’s storytelling adapts to the constant-changing society in America, thus helping to shape it’s cultural identity.

Gaiman is also sure to include the opposing force to the old gods, the new gods of technology. New gods such as Media, Technical Boy, and the Internet exemplify the contrast between traditional ways and modernized practices in society. Instead of practicing the traditional ways of worship, people have started to give their attention to material objects like television, phones, and the internet. This ultimately poses as a huge obstacle for the older gods since the struggle for identity and value in the world becomes void. However, even though the newer gods are becoming more prominent in American culture, it is evident that the newer gods still have some insecurities about their influence over people. When Shadow was being shown the “I Love Lucy’ show, the television was still attempting to persuade him into worshipping him, indicating that the newer gods still have concerns over how much power they possess (Kestler and Florman). Additionally, newer gods even have their peers as opposition for power and influence. At the start of the novel, Technical Boy revealed that new technology is being released so often, therefore making it difficult to survive as a god in American society.

Overall, Gaiman’s purpose in his writing is to reveal the truth about the American Dream and how it can be easily modified into a negative way of living. Many Americans desire independence and individualism but get blocked out by consumerism of materialistic goods. The American Dream has been tainted by the newer gods who represent consumption and material wealth rather than the connecting to those around them. All the gods together represent cultural struggles with the American Dream with Gaiman illustrating the difficulty of discovering individualism in a society that is shifting from traditional methods of worship. Though Gaiman reveals many dark truths about modern-day American society, he seeks to learn more about the functionality discovering oneself in today’s modernized world. It is often shown through Shadow’s character, the difficulty of self-discovery when different gods are trying to all capture the public’s attention (Kestler and Florman). With the various gods and their followers being present in society, the cultural clash portrays the fragmentation of the American Dream and how it varies for everyone. The American Dream is not a universal ideal, but rather a challenge that requires people identify their priorities and what truly matters to them.