The Ant

The ant symbolizes faith. When the ant first appears on the page, Rachel is the only one who believes its existence. Eliza thus realizes she must believe in the ant in order to prove her love to Rachel, and to preserve their mutual trust. As the novel unfolds, the ant recurs, gaining dimension. Positioned inside Rachel's mind, the ant represents the individual's tie to a spiritual realm. To believe in the ant's existence is to have faith in the impossible.

Ali's Ball

The ball Ali tries retrieving from the sea, symbolizes a choice. Ali is convinced if he does not bring the ball back to his friends, they will continue to bully and exclude him. However, once he is in the water with the ball, he realizes if he does not let the ball go he will drown. Yet if he does return the ball...