Themes: Symbolism

Symbolism is a recurring theme in The Walking Dead. It is the substitution of concepts with different symbols and mediums, creating a deeper meaning. It is used both by characters and writers to express ideas they wish to convey.

Occurences

Comic Series

• The walkers frequently symbolize death.

TV Series

• Daryl gives Carol a Cherokee Rose, said to bloom as a symbol of hope from the tears of the Cherokee mothers who lost their children to disease and starvation along the Trail of Tears after the white men had drove all the Indians off their lands. (Cherokee Rose)
• The people of Terminus give their victims a cattle motif as part of their "butcher or cattle" philosophy. They also kill their victims in a similar manner. (No Sanctuary)
• The Wolves style themselves after savage wolves as part of their philosophy. (Conquer)
• Dee symbolically shaves her head as a way of letting go of both her humanity and feminity. (Omega)
• The lyrics of Beta's song, I went to the Well are symbolic of his relationship to Alpha. (The Tower)
• The Reapers conduct baptism by fire rather than water after their own miraculous survival. (Rendition)
  • Curiously, in traditional Christianity, the fire of hell is actually presence of God. By running away from the fire, the Reapers run away from His judgement.

Fear the Walking Dead

• The Vultures operate much like real vultures, waiting for sick prey to die so they can feaste on their corpse and strip all of its meat. During their introduction, vultures fly overhead. (Another Day in the Diamond)
• Virginia is a reminder to Morgan, Dwight and Sherry of what happened in the state of Virginia. (Channel 5, Honey)
• Virginia substitutes keys for badges, claiming that they will open the future. (The Key)
• The Doomsday Cult keeps a walker chained to an ivy-covered tree, representing the cyclicality of life and the world. (The Holding)
• Teddy is a platonist, and claims to interpret the world symbolically as a result. (Mother)

Telltale Series

• Parker's Run is a memorial to the American Civil War, representing the growing discord in the group (Amid The Ruins)
• The Delta has a strong theme of fratricide and sororicide. Abel was named after the biblical story of "Cain and Abel", which is famous for involving the murder of Abel by his brother Cain. Minerva is considered a testament to the Delta philosophy for killing her sister Sophie. (Broken Toys)