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Symbolism is “the practice of attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships (Dictionary 1).” In fictional stories, “symbolism occurs when the theme or emotions underlying a story are also represented on a physical level (Khan 1)”. A story would be just plot and adventure if there were no symbolism present in it (Kahn 1). By looking at Jean Rhys novel Wide Sargasso Sea, one can see that the figure of the bird works symbolically within the novel representing the underlying connotations of entrapment and madness. Early in the novel, we are introduced to a parrot called Coco whose wings are clipped. The clipping of Coco’s wings is significant because it illustrates that his freedom no longer exists. Coco cannot fly away and he essentially trapped. The theme of entrapment is carried throughout the novel. It first begins with the slaves of Jamaica and the passing of the Emancipation Act. The Emancipation Act, which was “the first significant promise of freedom…simply transformed the slaves into apprenticed labourers (Townsend 1)” and they still had to wait for years to receive “the most elementary liberties” (Townsend 1) which is what Mr. Luttrell meant when he said �