Symbolism in The Walking Dead
You could argue that there are an immesurable amount of symbolism in TWD, but for my main point I will be focusing on Kenny's shirt:
Kenny's shirt changes color through the episodes: Episode One was yellow, Episode two and three consisted of the color (dark) green, and Episodes four and five used the color black...
Looking at the Color Archetypes:
Yellow (pale): Sickness, frailty, illness
Green: Life, growth, intelligence, wisdom
Black: Mystery, death, evil
I came up with this conclusion: Kenny wearing yellow represents his first experiences with the world of Walkers. What he goes through causing him great emotional pain and he does every effort to fight the world of walkers.
In episode 2-3, he wears green, representing him beginning to adapt, or grow, into this new world. He is acquiring new wisdom to help combat the savage world around him.
In the last two episodes, he wears black, showing him as a broken man with nothing else in his life, and the certainty of death around every corner. He (supposedly) died wearing his black shirt (If he died).
Writers don't do these things by accident: they do them purposefully. What other symbols can you find in TWD and what do you think they represent?
Comments
Normally, I detest finding things like symbols and metaphors in this franchise, but I'll bite.
Clem's hat. It was given to her by her dad, and she still retains it. It's a symbol of parental feeling, something she can find solace with. It's her last connection to her parents, and consequently, Lee, as his blood was splattered on her hat after he got bitten.
This may be nothing but I find Clem's new stile of clothing reflecting of Lee's to give a reminiscent nod to Lee.
Maybe. What does it represent... I mean, I know its Lee, but....
In a similar vein, the walkie-talkie. It represents Clementine's innocence and sense of safety. It was her only form of communication to her parents when she was out exploring in her treehouse. Even back then, it was a lifeline, a source of comfort and protection she could always rely upon when she needed it.
And like her innocence it was exploited by the Stranger to get close to her. The comfort and safety she had come to value so much ended up putting her in the most danger. So when she left the walkie-talkie behind at the end of Episode 5, she was also leaving that innocence behind.
EDIT: Damn it, forgot. Okay, nobody reply to this.
Or maybe it's better to run around and survive wearing blue jeans rather than skirts.
Hmm interesting, In season 2 Clem is wearing purple with some white and I looked up what the colors symbolize and for purple it had "mysterious, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment" while white said "purity, peace, innocence, youth" depending how people will have Clementine act this season it could represent how she's still has her innocence and is slowly transforming into a strong survivor but then again could mean nothing.
If the color archetypes don't make sense, then it probably has no place, or the writers didn't intend for it to be a symbol of significance.
Yeah it honestly could just be coincidental.
So names define characters, now clothes. That is really really really symbolic
Or maybe it means that her innocence still exists, but she hides it with mysteriousness and this transformation into bored monotone Clem. Maybe at some point, her purple shirt gets somewhat torn, but her white one stays intact, and after that, she begins to emote more.
Yeah I believe she still has her innocence but she's just been through so much that she's just tired and want's to go back to a normal life. She has become hardened and has to grow up fast in a world that doesn't care if she's a little girl or not she's becoming wiser and stronger and has to hold on to that hope until it's all over. Yes maybe later on she will but for now I understand why she was like that.
Interesting to see that about the color purple, especially since episode 4 "Amid The Ruins" has a purple color, seems mysterious and looks like Clem is going through some transformation probably leading to some sort of enlightenment. Who knows maybe i'm just over thinking too much.
Did Kenny wears black in episode 4-5 ? I'm pretty sure he wears the same clothe since episode 2, but there was some chance on the shirt logo
I only pick up on the more obvious symbolic things in the game.
Like Clem looking through the box of toys and only caring about food.
Her childhood is pretty much over.
Out of all them I'm most curios about episode 4, I'm hoping it'll turn out as good as I think it would. Exactly, especially with Clem putting on that blood or war paint on her face but we won't know for sure until this season is over.
Wait, when did this happen?
At Sam's camp there's a box of toys you can examine.
Ah, alright, then.
No, he wears black. He keeps his green shirt for 2-3.