Semiotics

What is semiotics and why is it useful?

“The study of signs-those objects by which humans communicate meaning: words, images, behavior, arrangements of many kinds, in which a meaning or idea is relayed by a corresponding manifestation we can perceive”- Mark Fourtier theory/theatre

In other words, semiotics is a tool we use to find meaning in the signs within the play. These signs could be trees, or a slang word, or a prop. In fact, words themselves are signs for a meaning. Without meaning, the words are simply nonsense. When we pay attention to the choices that a good author, like Harper Lee, has made, we can find richness in the storytelling. There will be things some of you might hold on to and find fascinating that others will not see much significance in at all. That is ok! This a tool that we can use to focus on the text and what it offers us as artists working to create a full and honest town of Maycomb.

Here are some guiding questions from Fortier:

How do nonverbal elements such as light, sound, space and movement signify in any particular play or performance? In performance, are these nonverbal signifiers reducible to their verbal significance?
What actions and gestures do actors I a particular performance use, over and above the words they speak, to indicate character? Can you analyze the semiotics of costume in any particular performance?

How open to different readings are the signs of any play or performance? Could all members of a particular audience be expected to read the signs in the same way? Do you and your peers agree on meaning of particular signs? Are there significant elements in a play or performance which seem particularly hard to pin down to an agreed-upon meaning?

What elements of a performance escape a sense of being meaningful? Do some aspects of production have their impact from just being there, or just affecting us physically or emotionally? Do music and light, for instance, always have meaning in the way words and ideas do?

The Title

To Kill a Mockingbird

We begin our semiotic study with the title. This connection focuses on a central theme of the text. A generous intelligent and innocent man was killed out of hate. Likewise, Scout says that if Boo Radley were to get known for killing Bob Ewell it would be like shooting a mockingbird. This is a layered symbol that can take on different meanings. No matter which character we connect this symbol too, the overall idea of the innocence of the songbird holds true. We must avoid the trap of defining it as just one thing, but in doing so we cannot waste the opportunity to engage thoughtfully in the text.

“I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird… That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something”(Lee 119)

Nature

To Kill a Mockingbird is rich with nature references. These plants help us root our audience in the time and place of the play. However, the abundance of these plant references encourages us to pay closer attention to the choices Harper Lee has made. Take a look at the list of specific plants referenced in the text!

Chinaberry Tree, Pecan Tree, Azaleas, Kudzu, Collards, Camellias, Geraniums, Oak Tree, Mimosa Tree, Scuppernongs, Rabbit Tobacco, Smilax

With some research, you will find that each of these plants has unique properties and significance in southern culture as well as personal significance to the characters. I will give an example of a deeper dive into semiotics through the camellia plant and the pecan tree.

Camellia

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Camellia flowers are native to China and were found by Europeans in the Philippines before being taken over to the West. They have rich symbolic meaning that varies with the color of the flower.

“White camellias flowers in Western cultures symbolize adoration and care; pink camellia flowers express longing; and red camellia flowers represent desire, romance, and passion”(Petal Republic)

They bloom richly in the summer but continue to bloom in late winter and early spring. This shows a resilience to the flower that is unique. The blooms are beautiful and delicate. It seems that they would be frail, but they are able to withstand cold in a way that other flowers cannot. With intentional flower genetics, camellias are now able to withstand an even more surprising range of temperature than they did back in the 1930s. They are sometimes called “the rose of winter”.

When camellias are given as gifts, again they have different meanings depending on their color. A white camellia is often given as a bridal gift.

Camellias were named the state flower of Alabama in 1959, just one year before the publication of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Considering all these facts and cultural understandings, we can make interesting connections to the character of Mrs. Dubose. We can find a semiotic significance within her connection to these flowers. The idea that the Alabama flower is actually a stolen and foreign species can be held in contrast to the hateful view of otherness that is traditional to the South and can be found laced through Mrs. Dubose’s dialogue. She speaks with cruelty to Scout for her failure to conform to the ideal and yet her most prized flowers are not “American” or even “white” at all. She is taking pleasure in a beauty that was not found in her soil.

The idea of these white camellias as delicate flowers with a strength to withstand great temperatures can be connected to Mrs. Dubose’s bravery in her fight against morphine addiction. She is small and old and covered in shawls and yet she is withstanding pain and withdrawals with understated beauty and strength. Atticus greatly admires her bravery though the way she sees the world is so different than how he sees it. It is hard for Jem and Scout to swallow his respect for her considering her hateful language, but he sees this “rose of winter” quality and asks them to learn from her.

When she dies, Mrs. Dubose gives Jem a beautiful white camellia. Just like the ones he chopped off her plants before he began reading to her. There is a resilience to these flowers. He didn’t pull them up by their roots. We can see a connection between this strength and redemption of hate as Mrs. Dubose is now freed from her addiction and able to die in peace.

There is more to be said about this rich symbol. You do not have to take everything I say here as “the truth” or “the way” to interpret the text. Through semiotics, some people will find different things significant and may even come to different conclusions. The beauty of this theory for entering a text is that it asks us to remember that the words and actions of the play are more than just one thing. There is great value in our attention and curiosity that can serve our work as actors, crew, and people. Lets pay attention!

Sources

“Camellia.” State Symbols USA. Accessed January 16, 2022. https://statesymbolsusa.org/symbol/alabama/state-flower/camellia.

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York :Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006.

Team, Petal Republic. “Ultimate Guide to Camellia Flower Meaning and Uses.” Petal Republic, December 21, 2021. https://www.petalrepublic.com/camellia-flower-meaning/.

 

 Pecan Tree

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Unlike camellia flowers, pecan trees are native to the United States. They were key sources of sustenance from native Americans who gathered the pecans and used them with other gathered food and in particular as sources of energy for long travel when food was scarce. These trees grow tall and wide up to 70-100 feet high and can spread 35-75 feet wide. They take up space. They produce both male and female flowers at different times. Therefore, it is best to have other pecan trees nearby to increase chances of cross-pollination and more pecan trees. Pecan trees are strong and can thrive and survive in any soil type. These trees can live for 300 years and produce fruits for 200 of those years. They grow wild all over the United States and are the official “Tree of Texas” where the oldest known pecan tree is found.

Their life symbolizes longevity and a strong survival ability. Rumor has it that some trees are thousands of years old. As long as they are alive, they will continue to grow and extend their roots. There are cultural myths about these trees being ancient and powerful. They are beautiful tree that are often used for the crafting of quality wood for furniture and other carpentry. Often these trees are a sign of “living a long and well-deserved life with great fulfillment”. They offer abundant fruits and nuts and their wood is distributed across the world. They are a useful tree. 

Trees are compelling symbolically largely because of their connection to other trees. When we think about a tree, we often imagine it in a forest. Trees that stand seemingly alone, are in actuality connected to the plants and organisms around them through intricate webs of roots. No tree can grow in isolation. They will drain the resources available to them, get sick, and die. How like life! No person can function at their best in isolation from others. We also know that the people we surround ourselves with have an impact on us. When Boo Radley, for example, was a part of a community of young men who caused trouble in town, he was removed from their company and isolated from the community. It is possible that this isolation led to a sort of starvation. Not from eating cats like the children imagine, but from a lack of companionship.

We do not know what goes on in the Radley house. It is possible that Nathan has a healthy connection with Boo and his isolation is the best choice for him. It is also possible that his loneliness perpetuates his seeming inability to participate in the Maycomb community. Our job is not to answer this question or argue about what should have been done. We can draw a connection between the Radley pecan tree and the Radley family. We see that they are not included in the “forest” of Maycomb. Therefore, people see their pecans as poisonous, and Jem is so fearful that he will not let Scout chew the gum from the knothole. When we take the time to consider the significance of this tree and its connection to the Radleys, suddenly a tree is not just a part of the set. It has come to life imaginatively in our eyes and can be shared with the audience.

Boo Radley stashed little gifts for Scout and Jem in the knothole of the tree. It isn’t until the end of the book that Scout realizes “We never put back into the tree what we took out of it: we had given him nothing, and it made me sad” (Lee 373).

Sources

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York :Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006.

“#24 Pecan Tree : Meaning & Symbolism.” TreeSymbolism.com. Accessed January 16, 2022. https://treesymbolism.com/pecan-tree-meaning.html.

“Pecan Tree.” State Symbols USA. Accessed January 16, 2022. https://statesymbolsusa.org/symbol-official-item/texas/state-tree/pecan-tree.

Other Symbols

We can apply these tools of semiotics to all sorts of things in our text. Not all will lead to epiphany moments, but some just might. I would encourage you to pay careful attention to the choices of language, gesture, costume, and anything else you can find that is more than what meets the eye. If you have a line with a certain plant or word that is repeated throughout the text, do some digging. I will not analyze every symbol in the entire book. This is work that can feed your understanding of the play. If you find something significant, I would love to talk about it and even include some of your deep dive in our lobby display. This is a useful tool for us and I am happy to help you in any step of the way. If there is a specific symbol or word you want me to investigate and share with the cast, I would be happy to do so as well.

Overalls, mad-dog, pocket watch, Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, tobacco, gavel, the schoolhouse, etc…