Furniture

The furniture in Zora’s mother’s flat is symbolic of the changing tide of the family’s fortunes. The family inherited valuable furniture from times when the family was wealthy. Now that the family is no longer wealthy, this furniture is said to be crammed into the flat. Just as the furniture no longer fits in the flat, whether Zora’s family fits in Sarajevo is called into question.

Bridges

Bridges are a symbol throughout the novel. Early on, they are described as a symbol between East and West, but they also symbolize the divide between where Zora’s family is and where she is. To Zora, it feels like she is in two different worlds, and there is no way to bridge those worlds for much of the novel. Even after she reaches safety, she continues to paint bridges which symbolizes how she still...