Historical, legendary and literary characters

Literary characters, legendary figures, historical and living are used as symbols.

A number of these symbols, like Caesar and Alexander, are used to indicate military conquest. Lord Kitchener and Uncle Sam on military recruiting posters are twentieth century examples. Rodin's 'Thinker' and the face Albert Einstein represent intellectual activity. The American Santa Claus, Charlie Chaplin's tramp, Napoleon Bonaparte, Superman, Charlemagne, John Bull, Mona Lisa, Hamlet, Harlequin, Joan of Arc, St Francis, Buddha, Don Quixote and countless others are all on the rolls of the world's symbolism, some depicting the virtues, and some the follies of mankind. The most ephemeral symbols are those of feminine beauty for which the public demands new faces and new bodies regularly. Often ephemeral as well, for the length of the publics' span of attention given them, are the more humanly profound symbols of service and sacrifice. The Unknown Soldier, for example, is only officially remembered.