Sucker Marks

The sucker marks are a physical representation of the emotional connection between Marcellus and Tova. Whenever they embrace, Tova is left with the characteristic marks of the octopus's tentacles, a symbol which lends physicality to the healing power of touch and the transformational energy of friendship. Later in the novel, when Cameron embraces Marcellus and receives the same sucker marks on his arm, the symbol signals the audience that both characters are healing through friendship and touch.

Dala Horse

Tova's Dala Horses originally belonged to her grandmother, and symbolize Tova's relationship with her deceased son Erik. When she is packing her possessions, handling the Dala Horses brings back memories of Erik and she often faults herself for their last fallout together, when Erik and his friends broke one of her most treasured family heirlooms. In the conclusion of the novel, Tova and Cameron find the...