Saturday, 10 May 2014

Symbolism of the Veil

We are considering using a veil within the final scene to represent/ symbolise a new beginning- Claudio leaves to join Hero in death. I have researched into the meanings and history of the veil I case there are any different or more relevant meanings.

'There are many stories of the origin of a bride’s veil. Some say that the veil was introduced in ancient Rome. People of that era believed that evil spirits would be attracted to the bride, so they covered her face with a veil in order to conceal her features and confuse them. The definition of veil is to “obscure, shroud, mask or cover, so perhaps that is how the bridal “veil” got its name.
It’s also said the in medieval times, the veil was used to protect her from “the evil eye” and was a symbol of purity, chastity, and modesty.
Others say the the origin of the bridal veil was due to the circumstances of an arranged marriage. In days past, men bargained with an eligible young lady’s father for their hand in marriage. AFTER the ceremony, the veil was lifted to reveal the brides features. This was to keep a groom from backing out of the deal if he didn’t like what he saw.
Some say that the veil was used in days past as a symbol of a bride’s submission and willingness to obey her husband.'

From this research perhaps it could symbolise Hero's innocence- she never cheated on Claudio, perhaps she was buying a Rose for him or it was given in innocence ( the Rose given to hero could be yellow- a symbol of friendship). Perhaps the veil at the end could represent her willingness to obey and accept Claudio's decision of death - perhaps she wants to start a new beginning with him?

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