Symbols and Metaphors

Water, cleaning and washing

Clinging onto their civilisation – need for hygiene, keeping them human. Water is constantly important, the need for survival. Trying to get rid of the signs of death, and the bad things in their world, what they are becoming “I was dead man’s brains out of his hair.” The beach: they are surrounded by the water but cannot drink it – been tainted like everything else in their world.

The mountain

Nature is still standing strong, won’t be moved. Not everything dies. It is a constant.

The sea

At first it represents their hope, it is their endgame and their ultimate goal. It is the only thing driving them forward and keeping them going. But when they actually get there, and they are faced with the reality of it, it shows how their hope has died with everything else. It shows that death touches everything and their disappointment.

The colour grey (gray American spelling) Ash 

Symbolises the decay and death of the world, the ashes could also be seen as a symbol of cremation, the burning of the dead. Grey is dismay and dull, all of the colour had been taken out of the world. The lines between right and wrong (“good guys” and “bad guys”) is blurred, there is black and white, only grey.

Fire

It could represent destruction, but in the book it has quite a positive symbol. Hope and light. “carry the fire” hope for something better, hope to stay human. Their light inside of them, the man always says that the boy is the one who carries it. He is the only one who is truly a “good guy” the man has darkness in him, the world has tainted him. The boy has a pure fire inside him.

Sight/sightlessness

Not being able to see forwards, there is nothing to see. Turning away and hiding the boy from the terrible sights, not wanting him to see it. Need their sight to survive. The man is constantly checking behind him, seeing if there is anything behind them. Sight decays as you grow older, nearing death “cold glaucoma dimming away the world.”

Seeds

Rebirth, hope for more growth, sustenance and food. Cannot grow as the world has no nutrients but the hope is still there.

Music/musical instruments Animal imagery

Music used to bring happiness and joy, a symbol of the civilisation they used to have, clinging on to the past. Hope for the future, if they still can play and enjoy music they are still human to some degree.

Religious imagery

Ely, false prophet. Washing the boy in the river, cleaning his face and head – like the baptism of Christ. The boy is the saviour. “godless”. Abandoned by faith.

The Coca Cola can 

Simple pleasures, shows how much they have lost. To us a can of coke is a given, there is no thought. But to them it is a massive thing and a huge treat for the boy. Also sharing and drinking together shows their bond.