The Bonak

The Bonak is a symbol of anything and everything the characters fear. The Bonak takes shape as an untraceable mythic beast that haunts Gretel, Sarah, and Marcus throughout the novel. While the Bonak often seems to physically appear to the characters in various shapeshifting forms, by the end of the novel, Gretel believes the Bonak to actually resemble an omen of the events to come in the future, rather than the guilt or terror of those passed.

Sarah

Sarah resembles unrealized fear and longing, the restlessness that pervades the human psyche. Sarah's perpetual wanderings, her constant search for the Bonak, her incessant need to flee where she is, represents the directionless individual's quest for truth and meaning. Her character also symbolizes unrequited desire. Because her longings never seem exact, Sarah seems incapable of achieving what she truly wants.

Otto

Otto the dog resembles a companionable...