Coach

Bump employs Coach at the beginning of the novel as a symbol for all of the loss that Claude and his family and friends endure on a regular basis. Coach, a depressed man with two babies, is a regular presence in Claude’s house as a child, but takes off once the pressure becomes too much. This departure mirrors many of the others that take place with extreme casualness throughout the novel. Loss is a constant presence in Claude’s world, which Coach’s presence at the beginning of his story makes immediately clear.

Black version of Fiddler on the Roof

The black version of Fiddler on the Roof that Claude and his parents plan to attend when they have their final fight symbolizes the fact that blackness alone cannot unite people. Despite the fact that they are going to attend this play that celebrates blackness...