Symbolism and Subtext in Morse-Based Plots
In the world of crime fiction, not all communication is loud, clear, or even spoken. Some of the most chilling messages arrive in fragments—whispers tapped through walls, pulses of light in the dark, or faint beeps buried in static. Morse code, with its stark simplicity of dots and dashes, becomes more than just a method of transmission. It becomes a metaphor—a symbol of secrecy, a cry for help, a reminder of the distance between people even when they’re close.
Writers often use Morse code not just to move a plot forward, but to evoke a mood. It operates on both the literal and symbolic level, giving a story rhythm, tension, and deeper emotional stakes. Let’s explore how Morse-based plots use the code not only as a tool—but as a statement.
Secrecy: The Language of the Hidden
Morse code is, by design, secretive. It was developed to transmit messages over long distances where voice was impossible. In fiction, that inherent secrecy makes it a perfect symbol for characters who have something to hide—or something dangerous to reveal. Whether used by spies, criminals, or desperate victims, Morse carries a sense of exclusivity. Only those “in the know” can decode it.
Symbolic Role:
- It represents inner lives that aren’t spoken aloud.
- It draws a line between those who understand and those who are in the dark.
- It amplifies paranoia—if only one person in the room knows the code, who else might be listening?
Example: A crime ring communicates through Morse flashes from boat to shore. Only the protagonist picks up the signal, realizing that the local harbour master is part of the conspiracy.
Desperation: The Last Resort
When characters use Morse code, it’s often not their first option—it’s their only one. That alone gives the method emotional weight. Whether someone is locked away, gagged, under surveillance, or injured, tapping out a Morse message becomes a form of pleading. It’s a lifeline sent out into the void, with no guarantee of being heard.
Symbolic Role:
- It conveys vulnerability: the sender is in danger or distress.
- It reveals a fight to survive or to be heard.
- It adds urgency: each tap or blink could be the last.
Example: A dying witness in a hospital bed can no longer speak—but blinks Morse code to spell out the killer’s name before flatlining. The nurse notices, but the cops don’t believe her.
Isolation: The Sound of Being Alone
Few things capture loneliness like Morse code. Its minimalism—just sound, light, or taps—echoes through empty rooms and across silent distances. It’s the perfect communication method when a character is cut off physically, emotionally, or even psychologically from the rest of the world.
Symbolic Role:
- It emphasizes disconnection between people, places, or emotional states.
- It isolates the sender from their surroundings, and sometimes from their own past.
- It turns communication into an act of survival, not just expression.
Example: In a cold case thriller, an old Morse message carved into the wall of an abandoned cabin is the only clue left behind by a missing girl. Decoding it reveals that she had been alive long after the police gave up the search.
Layering Subtext with Morse Code
In addition to symbolism, Morse allows writers to build subtext—messages within messages. For instance:
- A coded message could contain two meanings, depending on how it’s read.
- The inability to decode Morse could reflect a character’s failure to connect.
- A Morse conversation could run parallel to a spoken scene, revealing hidden tensions.
Dual Layer Example: A villain speaks calmly during an interrogation while tapping a message in Morse under the table to an accomplice in the room. The words spoken and the code sent carry two completely different tones—one is polite, the other is a threat.
What Lies Beneath the Dots and Dashes
Morse code, in the hands of a crime writer, is never just a code. It’s a voice for the voiceless, a secret weapon, a relic of a forgotten language. But more than that, it’s a symbol—of everything left unsaid, hidden, or desperate to be discovered.
So when a character reaches for the old language of dots and dashes, they’re doing more than communicating. They’re revealing who they are, what they fear, and how far they’ll go to be heard.
Also Read: Rewriting the Mind: Tabula Rasa as a Trope in Sci-Fi and Fantasy
—Silviya.Y
