The skull may be the most famous dark symbol, but the noose isn’t too far behind. More so than the skull, though, the noose is more commonly used as a prison tattoo. On the other hand, the skull can be seen as a celebration of life and moving on into the afterlife. It is a way to think of rebirth and reincarnation.
However, the noose tends to have a darker symbolism. You might ask yourself why someone might be interested in the noose. Most would assume the noose is always a symbol of death but to be sure, you might have to ask the person who wears the tattoo. Symbolism is funny like that. You might think you know what something means, and it might be something completely different.
The noose is a powerful symbol no matter how you look at it and this is why it has become a well-known tattoo. Tattoo enthusiasts have been known to be edgy or the type of people to scoff at the norm. This is why the noose tattoo makes sense. It is a jarring symbol and when someone gets it tattooed on their body, there are going to be some heads turning. This makes sense and it is probably one of the goals of the person with the tattoo. However, the meaning is probably the main reason they have it.
In this post, we are going to talk about the noose and its significance in our culture. We will also talk about the symbolism of the noose tattoo and why someone might get this inked on their body. The meaning won’t always be what you think it is and that is why it is best to talk to the person with it.
There are also different variations of the noose tattoo and the symbolism might change depending on what images are with the noose. We hope that by the end of this post, you have a better understanding of what this tattoo means.
History of the Noose
To understand the different noose tattoo meanings, it’s important to understand the noose itself. The noose, also known as the hangman’s knot, has been used for lynching people for centuries. Men and women of all ethnicities have been noosed over the years, and the hangman’s knot was preferred because it was easy to put around someone’s neck and it pretty much guaranteed death once the person was off the ground.
The noose represents a very dark time in American history when African Americans were lynched for no other reason than being black. Unfortunately, many white supremacists get the noose tattoo to make it clear what their views are. In these cases, the tattoo might just be the noose, or it could be the noose with a Confederate flag. Regardless of what the image is, the person wants to make their racism clear to everyone.
Noose Symbolism
The noose can sometimes mean impending death. This is a popular version of the tattoo for people who are either sick or otherwise know that they are going to die. Prison inmates on death row (or potentially going on death row) will get the noose tattoo for this reason. When the tattoo holds this meaning, the noose will sometimes be drawn around the neck to make the message perfectly clear.
The hangman’s knot can also represent the inevitability of death. This is a more widely used version of the noose tattoo since anyone can get it and use it as motivation. Looking at the noose can remind them to live each day to the fullest since life ends for everyone. This is still a pretty dark message, but it’s one of the nicer noose tattoo meanings.
Sometimes the noose tattoo is there solely to intimidate others. The owner of the tattoo wants others to fear them, so they will usually get it on a visible part of their body. Unsurprisingly, this is yet another version of the noose tattoo that is popular in prisons. It can be a small hangman’s knot on their hand or it could be a very large image somewhere else on their body.
Noose Tattoo Variations
When getting the noose tattoo, there are plenty of variations you can get to make this tattoo your own. People tend to get very creative with images that have a history to them. People like to flip things onto their heads and make people have to look at something a little differently to understand what the message is. Below are a few examples of the noose tattoo that we like that might stand out as symbolizing something a little different than you might have thought.
Noose Heart Tattoo
Believe it or not, some people use the noose tattoo to represent love. For example, a common noose tattoo has two people inside of the noose to signify that they will be together until death. It’s a slightly darker love tattoo, but it certainly gets the point across! Another way we have seen the noose depicted with a theme of love is with the idea that one will never let go.
When the noose gets tight, it’s almost impossible to loosen it. In this sense, the noose represents a love that cannot be broken. You might see a loved one’s name in the noose. You might also see the noose wrapped around a portrait of a person you love. However, if you decide to use this image when trying to get the message of love across, know that the strength of the noose will keep your love strong.
Noose Around the Neck Tattoo
The noose tattooed around the neck can mean a lot of things. First off is the obvious. This person with the noose around their neck doesn’t value life at this point. You might want to watch out for people like this as they might have recently been in prison or their childhood has led them down a path that isn’t the best.
However, this tattoo might also represent how they feel about their current situation or their place in society. Sometimes it feels like we are suffocating, and it can be hard to breathe. With all the things we have to worry about and a day-to-day basis, it can make you feel like you have nowhere to turn. This is symbolic in the noose tattoo. This is a situation where you might not want to ask questions.
Noose with Just Breathe Tattoo
The phrase, just breathe, has long been used as a reminder to those with anxiety and depression, the idea behind this is to not let the moment work you up and sit back and breathe. It is another way to cope with anxiety and all the things we deal with in this crazy world.
The noose is just another way to reinforce the idea that you need to relax and breathe. When a noose is tightened, you cannot breathe and when anxiety kicks in, it can feel very similar. This is why the idea of the phrase and the noose go well together. They are symbols and reminders to help you make it through each day
Some people get the noose tattoo simply because they think it looks cool. This might actually be the most common reason for getting a tattoo. It’s not uncommon to see the noose in a unique shape to add extra meaning, and it can come in a variety of colors. If you aren’t sure what you want to do but you know you want a noose tattoo, sit down with an artist.
If the artist is good, they will sit down with you have a consultation and talk to you about what you are trying to accomplish with your tattoo. If you aren’t comfortable with the way things are going, you don’t have to stay. If you need help finding an artist to work on your tattoo, reach out to us at Tattoo SEO.