Symbolism Thesaurus Entry: Beauty

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Every day we interact with objects, places and sensations that affect the way we think and feel. This can be used to the writer's advantage by planting symbols in the reader's path to reinforce a specific message, feeling or idea.

Look at the setting and the character's state of mind, and then think about what you want the reader to see. Is there a descriptive symbol or two that works naturally within the scene to help foreshadow an event or theme, or create insight into the character's emotional plight?

Obviously, beauty is subjective. But to make one's point in a written passage, an author should choose symbols that appeal to the largest audience possible. Because of this, today's entry will focus on symbols that are more universal.

In Nature:
A rose
Other flowers
Peacocks
A horse in motion
Butterflies
A picturesque view
A tropical paradise
Wildflower meadows
Mountain valleys
A private beach
Waterfalls
Rainbows
Sunrises/sunsets
Sun shining through clouds
Sun on water
A flawless gem
The human body

In Society:
Mirrors
A pretty face
Long, thick hair

Slender legs

Full lips

Long lashes

A curvy silhouette

Pageant crowns/sashes

Princesses in general

Geishas

Aphrodite
Snow White
Beauty (and the Beast)
Grace Kelly
Magazine covers
A fashion show
Supermodels
Brides
Gowns
Beauty marks
A beauty shop
Makeup
The Sistine Chapel
Michelangelo's David
Perfect symmetry

These are just a few examples of things one might associate with Beauty. Some are more powerful than others. A red rose is a strong symbol, and likely will not require reinforcement. However, a tropical paradise might stand for a number of things (isolation, exoticism, tranquility) and may not exemplify beauty on its own. Let the story's tone decide if one strong symbol or several smaller ones work the best.