ABSTRACT
Symbolism is a term related to the employment of symbols to represent in the conscious mind unconscious mental contents that will not otherwise be allowed to enter consciousness. Symbolization is a final means of expression of repressed material. It is a special kind of indirect representation which is distinguished from the various other forms of pictorial presentation of thought material such as the simile, metaphor, and allusion. Dreams use symbolism for particular elements of the latent dream thoughts. This comparison is remarkable in that it is not exposed by the process of free association. The dreamer has at his command a symbolic mode of expression of which he knows nothing. Freud thought this was to be explained by an unconscious knowledge of phylogenetic or ontogenetic origin. Dream symbolism is a small part of the province of symbolism which applies as well to myths, fairy tales, colloquial speech, songs, and poetic fantasy.
