symbol of Seymour’s Gun

Seymour's gun, which he deliberately keeps empty and uses only as a threat, represents the ultimate emptiness of his desire for fame and acknowledgement that he believes carrying and showing the gun will bring him. He himself states that he wants to be known for having gone on a non-violent killing spree, with the narrative ultimately suggesting that what is more important to him is finding and connecting with love. This is particularly significant when it comes to the moment in the story when Seymour throws the gun into the Grand Canyon. He is essentially discarding his shallower desires in the same way as he is discarding the gun, choosing to focus more on that which is genuinely more important and genuinely more transformative.