Cat Head

The cat head that Young Woman finds on the street symbolizes the tragedies and brutalities of violence. While walking home from class one day, Young Woman finds a severed cat head. The cat was possibly killed by local militants. Young Woman wants to find a place to bury it, and her sense of compassion directly conflicts with the immorality and violence that surrounds her.

Stalking

Stalking symbolizes the inherent predation that exists within patriarchal social structures. In the novel, Young Woman is stalked by Milkman and by Somebody McSomebody, and they both seem to be motivated by a sense of ownership over Young Woman. This sense of ownership is enabled by the sexist, patriarchal dynamics that define their society.

Feminists

The feminists symbolize righteous protest in the face of injustice and persecution. The local feminists sometimes organize protests against the ways in which women are...