I find it pleasantly ironic that the symbolism of the sun rising is in ways the opposite of the TGIF sunrise, with the sun rising being the sign of the beginning of the end of the typical work week and of the start of the weekend, a time for many of freedom from the calendar and clock rigors of the week. Exploring the sunrise image in fiction provides a fantastic list of some of the most famous and respected of literary works. Here are seven presented as a good start for the theme.

1. “The Odyssey” by Homer – This epic tale of travel frequently references the dawn as a symbol of hope and new beginnings, with phrases like “rosy-fingered Dawn” marking the start of a new day and new adventures. In the case of “The Odyssey,” it marks the beginning of a voyage and an adventure that is to last 20 years. It is unclear just how Ulysses was able to get 20 years off work to go for a sail. Some surmise that he was escaping his beloved wife’s attentions. Other contend that she was happy to see him go. The most romantic of us believe that he was taking on a task he was compelled to undertake, and that he and his wife made the sacrifice he was called upon to make. Was he in a rush to leave and in no hurry to get home? Is that degree of cynicism really suggested by the narrative poem? The actual words belie that suggestion.

   Odysseus (Ulysses in Latin), the legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer’s epic poem the “Odyssey,” spends a total of 20 years away from home. This duration includes the 10 years he spends fighting in the Trojan War, as depicted in the “Iliad,” and another 10 years he spends journeying home after the war, as narrated in the “Odyssey.”

   The “Iliad,” while focusing on a shorter period towards the end of the Trojan War, indirectly covers the span of the entire conflict, which lasts for 10 years. The “Odyssey” then picks up the story with Odysseus facing numerous challenges and adventures as he tries to return to Ithaca, a journey that takes him another decade. Thus, combining the time spent in the Trojan War and his subsequent adventures, Odysseus is away from his kingdom and family for a total of 20 years.

2. “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare – This classic play includes references to the sunrise, symbolizing new love and hope, even though the story ends tragically. Some attribute the tragedy to Romeo’s lack of patience. We generally do not take poison because our spouse slept-in late!  The imagery of daybreak is used to contrast and highlight the lovers’ plight.
3. “Far from the Madding Crowd” by Thomas Hardy – Hardy’s use of nature and the changing times of day, including sunrise, serve to mirror the emotional landscapes of his characters. The novel opens with a scene that conveys the beginning of many things, including the protagonist’s journey.
4. “East of Eden” by John Steinbeck – Steinbeck’s novel, while not starting with the sunrise, is deeply entrenched in themes of beginning anew, the dichotomy of good and evil, and the cycles of nature, which are emblematic of the sunrise. Steinbeck also gives us a most wonderful read to add to his long list of wonderful reads which are his bequest to the arts. He enriches us.
5. “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald – Fitzgerald’s novel uses morning scenes to denote new beginnings and the hope of rekindling lost love, reflecting the broader themes of pursuit and the inevitable disillusionment. Is all love destined to progress into disillusionment? I certainly hope not!
6. “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston – Hurston’s novel doesn’t open with a sunrise, but the motif of the horizon and what lies beyond it plays a crucial role, symbolizing the protagonist’s quest for personal freedom and fulfillment. She is also a “must read” novelist whose books simply cannot be put down. The end of each one is a disappointment. Not disappointing because of the content, but disappointing because it ends at all. It leaves us wanting MUCH more.
7. “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho – Coelho’s novel is a journey of self-discovery, and while it doesn’t open with the sunrise, the symbolism of the sun and the natural elements play a significant role in the protagonist’s quest and realization of his Personal Legend.

These examples, do not all open with the phrase “as the sun rises in the East…” but they do start with the embodiment of the spirit of new beginnings, hope, and the natural cycle of day and night that the phrase suggests. The sunrise serves as a powerful symbol in literature, representing the eternal hope for a new day and the possibilities that it brings.

It also provides far longer stretches of time that is more under our personal control rather than that time being structured by our clocks and by our work responsibilities.

xxx