Man, “The Man on the Stairs”

The titular man in “The Man on the Stairs” symbolizes the protagonist’s anxieties about her life and choices. One night, while lying in bed with her boyfriend, she suddenly worries that there is an intruder in the house. Her sudden anxiety seems to be a product of her unhappiness in her relationship rather than any actual evidence of an intruder.

Blanca, “The Sister”

In “The Sister,” Blanca represents romantic yearning. The main character has never been in love, but he begins to develop romantic feelings for Blanca without ever having met her. He eventually learns that Blanca is not real, and was fabricated by his friend who appears to have romantic yearnings for him.

Other People, “This Person”

In “This Person,” the main character’s interactions with other people symbolize the need to be liked and respected by people in...