Here is a small collection explaining some of the symbolism found in the Black Rose saga of SKU. For all your heart's symbolism desire, visit Aurorean, it has much more.
Roses
The rose is known as the flower of love and is used throughout all of Utena, with each member of the Student Council having their own color. However, for the Black Rose saga, they are used in a somewhat different fashion. It is the penetration of the black rose into the potential duellist that brings out what they referred to as their "true" selves, their dark rebirth into the desires hidden within. Perhaps this is because the black rose itself foreshadows death, symbolizing a lack of counsciousness or descent into darkness.
Rings
In SKU, the most prevelant ring is the infamous Rose Signet. It takes on meaning firstly for being a circle. The circle has a meaning of eternity or unity. This is because the ring, shaped as a circle, has no beginning nor an ending. This is why the ring has been used to show marriage since Roman times, and engagement for the past millenium. In this way it acts as an engagement ring, both for Utena to her prince, and for the One Engaged to the Rose Bride.
Besides showing ability to duel, and become engaged to the Rose Bride, the Rose Signet also signifies a contract. The ring has long been held as a covenant or agreement, or more specifically as the seal for a binding contract. It is in this way that "you-know-who" gave the rings to the hundred youths working under him. And it is because of these business reasons that Nemuro (or is it Mikage by this point?) is able to light the fire to kill those youths. He explains that "Those boys had a contract." in a truly ends-justify-the-means fashion.
Names
The name Souji Mikage means "grass time" and "honorable shadow." He truly exists in Ohtori as a shadow, and holds to his values, twisted as they may be. Although everybody knows of Mikage while he is there, as the genius who runs the Mikage Seminar, the instant he leaves, he is forgotten by almost all. Much in the ways that nobody thinks of a shadow once it is gone (when the light is put out). It is as a shadow that Mikage is an Imaginary Living Being.
The name Nemuro means "root greenhouse" Although this does not fit him in the beginning, as the computer-like man, it does go along with his transformation that Tokiko and Mamiya helped bring about. Once he meets them, he has a sympathy for the greenhouse that Mamiya works in. He sees how much Mamiya cares for the flowers, just as Tokiko cares for her brother, and Nemuro in turn cares for Tokiko. It is during this time that Nemuro himself finally blooms.
Butterfly
The butterfly is the symbol for metamorphasis, or the transformation of the soul, given the butterfly's own spectacular coming-of-age. In Japanese mythology they are supposed to carry the souls of those who have died; or it delivers a message and following it will lead to a mystery's solution. The butterfly is seen in Mikage's confessional elevator, the first in a series of symbols: butterfly, chrysalis, caterpillar, a leaf. This shows the regression of Mikage&39;s duellists to their primal state where they can be reborn into darkness.
Cat
Black cats have been symbols for magic or witches, as their familiars or helpers. They have also been held as bad luck in supersition. On the other end, cats have also been seen as gods by the ancient Egyptians, who held the killing of cats as punishable by death. In episode 22, the three cats seen together may symbolize the family unit of Nemuro, Tokiko, and Mamiya. It was pointed out in the essay by Celeste that the scene where Mamiya asks for eternity is an allusion to a famous painting by Manet, the Olympia, however the cat in Manet's painting is conspicuously missing. Could this be a symbol of Mikage and Mamiya going on without Tokiko any longer?
Colors
Pink is the color of both Mikage and Utena's hair, as well as the rose on the Signet. Pink has been known to symbolize naivete, which goes along with how Mikage thought he was controlling everyone, while in reality he himself was being controlled by you-know-who. While dark shade of pink means the love or friendship is moving toward possessiveness, such as Mikage towards Mamiya (Mikage wanted to posses Mamiya in the way that the Student Council members wanted to posses the Rose Bride, and they all wanted to posses Eternity) it can also mean thankfulness. Pastels also symbolize infancy, showing rebirth. And, in Korea, pink is thought to mean trust.
Red and White are the colors that form a duality in alchemy, as well as the color pink. Together, they can also symbolize creation. Perhaps it is the coming together of the colors that changes Nemuro and creates him anew as Mikage. As Nemuro, he is more the color white, innocence and purity. But, he is changed by the red of Akio, passionate and strong. As Nemuro's white is the symbol for the virgin goddess, Akio's red is the symbol of sexuality.
Black is the color of the roses raised by Mikage and Mamiya underground Nemuro Memorial Hall. It has meanings of darkness, death, depression, formality and convention. (As seen in black formalwear, like tuxedos and cocktail dresses.) Since blackness is the absence of light, it can also symbolize ignorance in people and restrictions imposed upon them. I think this is exactly what Mikage does to his duellists when forcing his rose on them. By having them act out their darker natures, they are restricted to only a small portion of their beliefs, while ignorant of most of the information around them. Only by being denied the full picture can they be useful to overthrow the Rose Bride. (When Wakaba was a duellist, the only thing she knew was her hatred for Anthy and the "betrayal" of Saionji, she was not able to think about her best friend at all.)
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