Keloids

The keloids, or scars, on Lionel's arms, symbolize suffering. Because Lionel holds some shame about the scars, and because of his confused dynamic with Charles, he is surprised when Charles kisses the keloids in a moment of intimacy. In this scene, Lionel's true pain and trauma suddenly feel exposed, and seen.

Math

For Lionel, math symbolizes control. Throughout his childhood and adulthood, Lionel has been drawn to numbers. Throughout the narrative present, he uses theorems and equations to understand his inarticulable emotional experiences. Math feels fixed and logical for Lionel, amidst the often illogical and confounding circumstances of his personal life.

Ruler

Lionel's ruler symbolizes longing. The ruler is old and broken, a relic from Lionel's math camp days. Lionel retains the ruler as a means of holding onto the past. Therefore, when Charles threatens to throw it away, Lionel grows upset. The ruler is also...