Pendants

Clara and Theresa's purple pendants symbolize interconnection. Although the significance of the pendants remains mysterious throughout the novel, in the novel's final chapter, the reader learns that the necklaces are meant to keep Theresa and her daughter connected through space and time. Indeed, allusions to the pendants appear throughout the novel, thus subtly linking even the most disparate characters' lives. The author uses the pendants to illustrate the ways in which all individuals and eras are in some way related and intertwined.

Arctic Plague

The Arctic plague symbolizes destruction. Once the plague breaks out and spreads around the globe, it disrupts all of the characters' realities. The plague, therefore, is a vehicle for change. It upsets the characters' sense of normalcy and forces them into dismantled societal structures. Although the plague causes significant devastation, it also teaches the characters about renewal, hope, and connection.

Annie

The...