What is postcard?

The postcard that Oliver took from Elio’s room before they left for Rome is symbolic of Elio’s continued importance in Oliver’s life. Because the story is told entirely from Elio’s perspective, there are relatively few moments for the reader to catch a glimpse of Oliver’s true feelings, rather than Elio’s imagined interpretation of his feelings. Oliver’s desire to take a keepsake to remind him of Elio, and the fact that he continued to keep it in his office years after their affair came to an end, proves that the relationship was just as significant for Oliver as it was for Elio.