Old Man

In "The Old Man with No Name," the old man is a symbol of loneliness. Indeed, the old man not only lives alone in Bloomington, but is entirely alone in the world. He has lost his comrades during the war, and lost his wife and children in the years following. His seemingly erratic behaviors are manifestations of his profound loneliness and alienation.

Joshua's Poems

In "Joshua Karabish," Joshua's poems are a symbol identity. When Joshua is alive, he tells the narrator that he does not want to publish his work, because he fears being ridiculed and chastised. However, after Joshua's death, the narrator discovers the merit of his work and even submits the poems to a contest under his own name. In this way, the narrator attempts to steal the one worthy part of Joshua's legacy and identity, by robbing him of his artistic work...