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.