Telescope

The telescope Robin and Theo are looking through in the first scene of the novel represents the search for life on other planets, a possibility that is of particular interest to both father and son. For Robin, the potential for extraterrestrial life is a representation of childlike wonder, which Theo admires in his son and feels a vestige of himself in his job as an astrobiologist.

Alyssa's Buddhist prayer

The Buddhist prayer that Theo and Robin repeat, because it was often recited by Alyssa, is a symbol of Robin's connection to his mother and their shared passion for protecting animals. The prayer reads, "May all sentient beings...be free from needless suffering" (24), which epitomizes Alyssa's goal as an animal rights lawyer and activist. Robin and Theo say the prayer every night, and Robin wakes up in a panic if they forget, which demonstrates his understanding of...