Symbol: Swords
The male characters put a great emphasis on owning swords and having a good sword when compared with the swords other men have. The male characters try to get Spanish swords, considering the Spanish swords as being extremely important. The sword represents violence but also is a symbol used to suggest the masculinity of the male characters. When other male characters emasculate other male characters, this is presented by the act of one character taking another character’s sword.
Symbol: Wedding
A wedding, in its unification of two individuals, is also a more general symbol of unity and harmony. In the wedding of Edward and Bridget, we see a larger emphasis on unity and balance and peace. Clement's unfettered approval of the event makes sense, given that he has been trying to quell the others' conflicts. Jonson's choice to end the play with a wedding is thus indicative of his belief that togetherness and harmony are preferred to dissension and disunity.
Symbol: Characters
Many of the characters in the play are there to be symbolic of particular traits and follies, which is Jonson's goal given that this is a play about the humours. Bobadil symbolizes irascibility, Matthew falseness, Downright impatience, Knowell close-mindedness, Kitely jealousy, etc. None of them are particularly fully-formed or believable, but this is Jonson's goal—to have them be recognizable flaws that we all might tend toward, but can hopefully alter in our course.
