Little Room

The little room is a symbol of longing. Throughout the novel and thus the main characters' lives, the little room takes on a variety of identities, forms, and purposes. No matter its iteration, however, the little room is always a refuge to its inhabitants. The little room also grants the characters, particularly Gonzalo and Vicente, a space within which they can privately and discreetly explore their ineffable emotions, especially via reading and writing.

Darkness

Vicente's cat Darkness symbolizes constancy. Because Vicente's home life has never been simple, he is deeply attached to his pet cat. As soon as Darkness falls ill, Vicente becomes desperate to save her. The prospect of losing the cat alters Vicente's behavior and attitude. Indeed, Darkness appears to be the one consistency in Vicente's life. His attachment to Darkness is a manifestation of his fear of abandonment and of losing those...