The Motorbike

The bailiff’s motorbike symbolizes the corruption at the heart of his power and aggression. It is the only motor vehicle in the village, as only the bailiff has the money and position to own one. It is a loud, ugly machine that pollutes the air wherever he rides it, constant reminder of the village’s state of inequality.

The Cross

The cross on the goatherd’s grave symbolizes his Christian morality and decision to martyr himself for it. His choice to keep the boy’s location secret despite his torture is an allegory for Christ’s sacrifice. Though the boy admits he is “unable to understand what possible significance those two pieces of wood could have in that grim, remote place,” the cross also represents his enduring loyalty to goatherd, whose memory he honors with it (225).

The Drought

The drought symbolizes the abusive and...