significance of dented Volvo

The dented Volvo is a symbol of premonition and the power of suggestion. It is a symbol in the story “Harvey’s Dream.” Janet notices the dent in their neighbor’s Volvo before her husband joins her in the kitchen, but does not sense any foreboding in the dent until Harvey begins telling her about his dream. As he describes how he dreamed one of their daughters called them about a car crash that resulted in the death of her sister, Janet becomes more and more convinced that her daughter was killed in the crash that caused the dent in the neighbor’s car.