Backgammon

In this novel, backgammon symbolizes luck, fate, and control over one's own life. Backgammon is a two-person board game played with dice and wooden pegs. It is a game of chance where players strategize the movement of their pegs based on rolls of the dice. Unlike card games, everything in play is visible to both players. The outcome of the games relies heavily on chance in addition to player strategy. In the narrative, backgammon acts as the physical representation of luck and control. As Bruno’s situation worsens and becomes less in his control of his life, his ability to win games of backgammon also decreases. Backgammon is also presented as a very gentlemanly game, so Bruno’s declining success in backgammon also corresponds with the degradation of Bruno’s crafted gentlemanly persona.

Luck

In this novel, the concept of luck is closely connected with the...