From Freedom to Opportunity: The Symbolic Nature of the Statue of Liberty

Daryl Gordon

            On a small island in New York Harbor stands an unusual structure of a mere three hundred and five feet.  Easily dwarfed by the average building in New York City by three times, it might make the modern observer wonder about the role of the Statue of Liberty.  Surrounded by giant utilitarian buildings, one can only wonder from what people and society did “Lady Liberty,” as the statue came to be referred to popularly, come from?  Has she been able to retain the same importance and status in the modern world from the time that she was constructed in the New York Harbor over a hundred years ago?  While she has not lost her status as an iconic part of New York City, and indeed of the United States of America herself, the meaning of the Statue of Liberty has changed from that what was originally intended as a symbol of democratic rule by the people that was to be emulated by the countries of the world especially Europe, to more recently as a beacon for immigration to this country. 

            As the popular nickname “Lady Liberty” suggests, the subject of the Statue of Liberty is a woman; specifically an idealized version of Libertas who was the goddess of freedom and widely worshipped by ancient Romans.  Liberty, as represented by a woman, was quite a common symbol used by the United States at the time when the Statue of Liberty was conceived and created in the late nineteenth century.  This symbol of liberty would have been commonly understood at the time to the average person. 

 

            This monument to liberty was constructed by a Frenchman, Frederic  Bartholdi, and was designed to be completed by 1876, this of course being the one hundred year anniversary of the year that the Declaration of Independence was signed.  It was a joint project between the peoples of France and the United States.  In the United States the base was constructed while the actual statue was constructed in France.  It was brought to its eventual resting place in pieces, and assembled by French workers. Bartholdi said this of his technique used to create the statue:

The surfaces should be broad and simple, defined by a bold and clear design, accentuated in the important places. The enlargement of the details or their multiplicity is to be feared. By exaggerating the forms, in order to render them more clearly visible, or by enriching them with details, we would destroy the proportion of the work. (Bartholdi)

The message of the Statue of Liberty was always meant to be overt, and that is especially obvious from Bartholdi’s remarks on his design for the statue.  As he said, it was to be “bold and clear.”  This is reflected not only in the design, but in the choice of liberty as a lady, as already stated a clear symbol of liberty at the time. 

Some of the other explicit symbolism of the Statue of Liberty is found in the few details of the statue.  One of the first things that the observer notices is that the lady is dressed in a neoclassical toga that evokes strongly not only the ancient Roman goddess of freedom, but hearkens to the Greek idea of democracy that the American experiment was based on.  Not only that, but her crown was decorated with seven rays that represent the seven continents and seas, as she spreads abroad her message of democracy and liberty to the world.  Her right hand holds aloft a torch to the world while in her left hand she cradles a tablet  inscribed with the date   "JULY IV MDCCLXXVI," which of course is July 4, 1776 the day the Declaration of Independence was signed.  At her feet lay the broken chains of tyranny and oppression.  Not insignificant since in 1876 it was not too long after the Civil War had ended, and for many true liberty had been achieved with the end of slavery and its tolerance.  (Moreno)

The clear message is no accident, and reveals the intentions of the originators.  They wanted the statue to be not only a celebration of the achievements of democracy in the United States, but to stand as a beacon to other countries of the world.  An invitation to those governments to emulate what was done in this country.  While the United States was not without its growing pains, when compared to France’s struggle for democracy one can perhaps see the originator’s plea for as bloodless as transition to democracy as possible.  How this message was received and implemented to the other nations of the world could be the subject of its own worthy investigation.

 

There was a definite moral high ground that was being taken when the Statue of Liberty was conceived and created.  Behind its placement is no clear way to profit from it.  At the very least it could be considered something meant merely to beautify her natural surroundings, but it is clear that the intent was more than that.  There is no subtlety in its message, and in the worldview of those who created it.  In ways that bore little need for explanation, it was obvious that the rule of democracy was clearly to be favored by the more stifling rules of other governments found in the world.  The only question was how to let the rest of the world that there is a call for them to cast off their burdensome regimes and instead bestow upon the people liberating freedoms of democracy?  That they chose to convey this through a finely crafted, majestic piece of art shows that there very message in of itself is preferable to any other means a more autocratic government. Their legitimacy is found in the very peaceful and inspiring way that their message is displayed.  It is not compulsory to follow the Statue of Liberty; she merely beckons those to follow her.  She calls.         

           The narrative that the creator of the Statue of Liberty was striving to put forth when people saw the statue is one that declares that man can rule himself, and that the world should look towards this nation as a shining beacon on how to govern. This message was meant to be bold and undeniable as exhibited by its unmistakable size and grandeur. The people of the world would look at her and see that the shackles of tyranny can be broken and they can be free. Freedom is an obtainable state which is better than being ruled by others. The governments of the world should know that self-rule can work and that they should let their people be free to choose their own paths. A republic is better for their nation and for their people. Not only would the everyday people be inspired by the Statue of Liberty’s grand message of liberty, but the very leaders of government all over the world would take heart from the message. Her stern gaze would hopefully pierce the very hearts of these leaders, and they too would be overtaken by the message of liberty. The Statue of Liberty would change lives and hearts all over the world.

The public however changed the narrative. As immigrants traveled to America they would see her standing at the entry way to America. She became to them the symbol of America. The statue slowly became a symbol of immigration into this nation.  Instead of representing the “Grand Experiment” of self-rule it gained a narrower story of those who recognized the greater freedoms and opportunity to be found in this country, and so left everything they knew in search of what would popularly become known as the “American Dream.”  The poor man could come with very little in his pocket, not know the language, or a single other soul in this country, yet that man could be the next Rockefeller.  Anything could happen here because this was the land of opportunity.  On his way into this country and new life she would be waiting there beckoning and welcoming.  The Statue of Liberty became the “Mother of Exiles.” No longer was the original intent found in her story.  She became more a symbol of opportunity than liberty.

            It would not be too much longer than that this message would be further confused by Emma Lazarus’ poem The New Colossus that has come to be associated with the Statue of Liberty.  Few realize that the now famous lines:

            “‘Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!’ cries she

With silent lips. ‘Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” (Lazarus)

Were in fact never a part of the original design of the Statue of Liberty and arguably would upset the original intent behind it.  This addition only highlights though that in its purest form this was always meant to be a symbol of liberty.  Why else would the commonly understood symbol of Libertas be invoked?  It was found frequently on the coinage of that time. (Sutherland) Though the leap to the statue being more associated with immigration is understandable since its physical location is so near Ellis Island, where for decades new immigrants would first step onto American soil, this was more an accident of geography than a deliberate attempt on the part of the originator. 

            Its placement was designed to be prominent in what was and is one of the most important cities in the United States.  Also it was one of the most cosmopolitan of cities that would grasp the statues high ideals and symbolism easily.  In this bustling port many could not help but see this harbinger of democracy.  Ironically this is how its message became confused with immigration.  Instead of emulating the United States democracy then instead the peoples of the world just came here to experience it for themselves first hand. 

            The Statue of Liberty is a good example of an explicit symbol.  The artist that created the piece was very clear in what message it was supposed to convey, and for the most part those who received it understood that message well.  It was only through an accident of placement that allowed for the perception of its message to take on a different tenor.

            This is no more noticeable than to be found in the way that “Lady Liberty” has been popularly portrayed in the national mind as found in television, literature, and movies.  One such portrayal is found in the film Ghostbusters II.  The Ghostbusters team learned that paranormal sprits were feeding off of the hate that was being generated by all the citizens of New York.  Upon discovering the solution to defeating the demons was creating a feeling of goodwill among the denizens of the city so the whole place could be overrun with positive energy, the Ghostbusters knew they would need to invoke a powerful symbol of immense positivity.  Their solution was to animate the Statue of Liberty and make her walk down the street in a make shift parade on New Year’s Eve with a little help from Rita Coolidge’s hit song “(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher.”  The visual sight of the statue, come to life, walking down the street in New York evoked enough goodwill and brotherly love in the city that the Ghostbusters were able to save the day.  Lady Liberty proved an effective rallying point just as its creator would hope that it would be, but perhaps in not exactly the way that was originally intended. 

 

            Does the Statue of Liberty today represent what it was supposed to when it was built? Yes and No.  To people who want to be free all over the world the Statue of Liberty is seen exactly as its creators intended.  The statue though has gained a new life in a symbol of immigration to America, something that it was never intended for. Its creators wanted to export the American style democratic republic to the world, but to many today it is a symbol of importing people to America.  Beyond that it is a symbol of hope to those who come here in search of the “American Dream.”  She represents all the good that is to be found in this land which is exactly why in Ghostbuster II she became such an effective symbol of goodwill capable of making an entire city overflow with good feelings in a city that is world renowned for being rude.  Even though the governments of the world did not en masse adopt an idealized style of democracy the broader objective to create a rallying point that would gain worldwide recognition was certainly achieved.  When considered in that context it is hard to consider that the Statue of Liberty failed in its goals and hopes.

References

Bartholdi, Frédéric A. Liberty Enlightening the World. New York: Root & Tinker, 1884.

Cleveland, Grover, and George F. Parker.. :. The Writings and Speeches of Grover

Cleveland. New York: Cassell Pub. Co, 1970.

Khan, Yasmin Sabina. Enlightening the World: The Creation of the Statue of Liberty .

Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 2010.

Lazarus, Emma, and Josephine Lazarus. The Poems of Emma Lazarus. Boston and New

York: Houghton, Mifflin and company, 1889.

Moreno, Barry. The Statue of Liberty Encyclopedia. New York, N.Y.: Simon & Schuster,

2000.

Sutherland, Cara A. The Statue of Liberty. New York, N.Y: Barnes & Noble Books,

2003.

Ivan Reitman, Bernie Brillstein, Gordon A. Webb, Joe Medjuck, Michael C. Gross

(Producers), & Ivan Reitman (Director). (1999). Ghostbusters 2 [DVD]. United States: Sony Pictures