The Confessional

The church confessional symbolizes religious performance. Rudolph goes to confession in an attempt to feel sorry for what he has done, not because he is truly remorseful. If he confesses his supposed sins to the priest, he has a better chance of avoiding his father's wrath. He realizes the superficiality of the practice when he returns to the confessional at the start of Sunday Mass.

The Wafer

The wafer Rudolph holds in his mouth during communion symbolizes guilt. Rudolph partakes in communion because he is attempting to appease his father. However, once he comes to the top of the aisle, and opens his mouth, he feels overwhelmed by his sinful nature. The wafer sits undissolved on his tongue, symbolizing how caught Rudolph is. He wants to consume the wafer in order to earn his father's favor, but fears that swallowing it might lead to his...