The Lucky Day

The location and status of the train, The Lucky Day, symbolizes the state of the novel’s intrigue. The main action of the novel begins with Otto and Xavier attempting to board the train. Its numerous stops and the introduction of new characters on board the train parallels Otto’s start-stop understanding of the mystery of Ava’s relationship with Přemsyl. Significantly, the train acts as a separate space from the rest of the world, isolating its passengers from the outside, functioning as the boundaries of the novel itself by enclosing the characters within its intrigue and then releasing them at the end of the novel.

Otto's eye

The appearance of Otto’s eyes symbolizes Otto’s implication in the novel's main mystery. His bloodshot eyes are first introduced by his recollections of the burning flat, and he later sees his eyes redden...